Lately my colleagues and I have been talking about the frustrating reality of listening to conversations where climate change is still being debated, while simultaneously working with global partners who are actively living through its devastating effects.
If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that we cannot carry on as if all is well.
Over the past 10 years, weather-related disasters have caused some 250 million internal displacements – equivalent to around 70,000 displacements per day.
At the same time these conversations were happening, we gathered together to pray for two countries hit hard by recent disasters. One of those countries was Nepal. We prayed for our local partners who were responding to communities impacted by devastating flash floods, communities now grieving loved ones, left without homes, and watching their livelihoods disappear in an instant.
That same day we welcomed Marlon Phiri, Executive Director of ROCS, our long-term partner in Zambia. Marlon has devoted much of his life to building resilience in rural communities. In recent years, these communities have faced increasingly harsh environmental challenges – agonising dry spells in some parts of the country and flash flooding in others – resulting in 1.7 million people who now face severe food insecurity.
As I processed the impact of flash floods on families in Nepal and stories Marlon shared from Zambia, I was reminded of an email my colleague had sent me weeks earlier. It contained a story I hadn’t heard before – a clear example of how our local partners are constantly responding to climate shocks, finding ways to support communities in both the short and long term. These stories rarely make the news, yet they affect millions of lives and serve as vital reminders of the work being accomplished in the face of the widespread climate crisis.
In southern Ethiopia, recurrent landslides – driven by heavy rainfall, steep terrain, environmental degradation and inadequate infrastructure – killed 34 people and impacted more than 14,000 others. The landslides destroyed 85 homes along with vital farmland and livestock, destroying already fragile livelihoods and food sources.
With thousands of houses remaining at risk of further landslides, the government began relocating families to safer villages. This kind of forced internal migration is happening at an alarming rate worldwide: “Over the past 10 years, weather-related disasters have caused some 250 million internal displacements – equivalent to around 70,000 displacements per day.” (UNHCR, 2025)
Relocating large numbers of households without the necessary infrastructure is a major hurdle for economically fragile countries. To help meet this need, local organisation Terepeza Development Association, with support from Tearfund Ireland, Canada and Australia, established a comprehensive health post in the relocation area.
The new facility was built to serve not only the 100 relocated households, but also the 400 families already living in the host community – benefiting approximately 3,000 people in total. The health post features dedicated rooms for medical examinations, delivery, postnatal care, a laboratory, a pharmacy, and a medical store. It provides vital relief to families who previously had to travel 18 km to reach the nearest clinic – a major barrier for pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
Local residents have shared how much the facility has restored their confidence, improving not only their health but also their peace of mind. For newly arrived families, it has provided a sense of safety and stability.
Still, rebuilding the lives of all families impacted remains a challenge. Climate impacts continue to disrupt their progress; crops planted on land provided by the government almost failed due to drought conditions. The community also lacks education services, electricity and access to nutritionally diverse food. In a community not far from this area, our partner Tearfund Ireland through the Terepeza Development Association, is already working with families to mitigate these drought conditions through improved climate resilient livelihoods and women's economic empowerment.
The likelihood of disasters like the flash floods in Nepal are becoming increasingly likely as climate pollution continues to raise temperatures, destabilising the Himalayas. For communities in Nepal, the road to recovery will be long. Whilst our partners are currently supporting families with urgent provisions, they are fully aware of the resources required to ensure people can live full lives again. When communities in Nuwakot were hit by the massive earthquake of 2015, our partner Share and Care responded immediately with food and tarpaulins, later supplying corrugated iron sheets for temporary shelters. Once initial home rebuilding began, Share and Care consulted the community on their long-term needs and provided tailored packages to help restart their livelihoods. Now, Share and Care along with our other partners in Nepal, will begin this journey from relief to recovery again.
Communities like those in Nepal, Ethiopia and Zambia contribute the least to global emissions, yet they continue to carry the heaviest and most tragic burden. We know there are ways to help lift this burden, and one of them is for countries like our own to deliver its fair share of climate finance. This climate finance will ensure people are equipped with what they need to withstand climate shocks and safeguard food security. You can add your voice and play a meaningful role in ensuring our global neighbours aren’t left to face these challenges alone.
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Related projects have received support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
