KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Climate scientists had predicted that by the year 2030, approximately 25 per cent of Malaysia’s population could be displaced due to the impacts of climate change, according to an analysis by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Based on data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Malaysia witnessed 354,000 climate-related internal displacements between 2016 and 2021.

"The situation escalated in 2021 when floods alone triggered around 129,000 internal displacements, a substantial increase from the 24,000 recorded in the previous year.

"In 2022, the IDMC recorded 156,000 people displaced due to floods, landslides, and storms, underscoring the undeniable signs of a changing climate,” it said.

The report titled "Children Displaced in a Changing Climate” found that children are at a particularly high risk of injury and death during storms and floods, and are more vulnerable to infections of vector-borne diseases.

The report also revealed that weather-related disasters caused 43.1 million internal displacements of children in 44 countries between 2016 and 2021, translating to approximately 20,000 child displacements each day.

Although Malaysia is not included in the global report, the country faces a real and imminent threat of displacement due to floods.

"Climate change is a child rights issue. It robs an entire generation of their future. Children and youth understand that disasters and climate change will significantly affect their lives. They are not mere beneficiaries of climate action. With the right tools, resources, and support, they can act, advocate, and safeguard their friends, families, and communities from environmental harm,” said Malaysia’s Unicef representative Robert Gass in a statement today.

Unicef executive director Catherine Russell expressed concern about the psychological and emotional toll on displaced children, stating, "It is terrifying for any child when a ferocious wildfire, storm, or flood barrels into their community. For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especially devastating, with worry about whether they will return home, resume school, or be forced to move again.”

To address these challenges, Unicef urged the government, donors, development partners, and the private sector to take immediate action to protect children and young people at risk of future displacement, including those already uprooted from their homes.

This includes ensuring that child-critical services are shock-responsive, portable, and inclusive, preparing children to thrive in a climate-changed world, and prioritising children and young people in disaster and climate action policies and investments.