India, Sept. 23 -- As climate shocks increasingly overlap with conflict and fragility, millions of people facing drought, floods and food insecurity are receiving limited funding to prepare for disasters, International Rescue Committee (IRC) President and CEO David Miliband said in a speech on September 22.
Conflict and climate risks converge
Miliband said 860 million people living in conflict-affected states are also in countries among those most vulnerable to climate change. In 2025, 22 of the 30 countries most exposed to climate disasters were also experiencing violent conflict.
Climate stress can damage agriculture, intensify competition over land and water and disrupt migration patterns, while conflict can destroy local economies an...