Asia Pacific hardest hit by COVID-19, climate-related disasters

At least 51.6 million people worldwide have been doubly hit by COVID-19 and climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts or storms, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In a new analysis published on Thursday, the IFRC said the Asia Pacific was the region hardest hit by the “double jeopardy” of disasters and the coronavirus pandemic. About 80 percent of the global total of people affected by disasters and COVID-19 in 2020 were in the Asia Pacific. “The pandemic is increasing the needs of people suffering from climate-related disasters, compounding the vulnerabilities they face and hampering their recovery,” the IFRC said. India and Bangladesh were the worst hit, with 40 million people across the two countries affected by the pandemic and floods or storms. Notably, Cyclone Amphan – the region’s strongest tropical storm in more than 10 years – killed 129 people and affected some 15 million in areas under lockdown, complicating emergency relief efforts, such as evacuation, disbursement of food and temporary shelter. style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;">