A photographic exhibition that shows the impact of extreme climate events on the life of refugees is on display in the corridor that connects the boarding and disembarking sectors of Congonhas Airport, in São Paulo.
“Losing everything. Again” is the name of the show, which has the impact of extreme climate events on forced people to move. There are real stories of refugee and displaced people who, even after they fleeing wars, persecution or violence, have faced new tragedies caused by environmental disasters in the world, such as floods, severe droughts or earthquakes. The exhibition is held by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in partnership with the Airport concessionaire, Aena.
According to UNHCR, extreme weather events end up reaching more intense people who already live in vulnerable situations, such as refugees.
“Images portray the experience of people who had already been forced to flee by wars, persecution or violence, and who then faced tragedies caused by environmental disasters – such as floods, severe droughts or earthquakes. It shows that the climate crisis is not only environmental: it is a human crisis that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. Start over, they lose everything once more, ”said Samantha Federici, head of the partnership office with the UNHCR private sector in Brazil.
Exhibition at Congonhas Airport shows that climate change aggravates vulnerabilities – Photo UNHCR/ANDrew McConnell
In an interview with Brazil agencySamantha said climate change has aggravated existing vulnerabilities and generated new forced displacements.
“Millions of people are forced to leave their homes because of extreme climate events-such as floods, droughts, and hot waves-or face these impacts after they have already fled conflict and persecution. It is estimated that in the last ten years, climate-related disasters have caused 220 million internal displacements. For refugees, often living without safe housing, stable income or essential services, a climatic disaster, a climatic disaster, a climatic disaster, a climatic disaster can It means a ‘second’ or ‘third displacement’, interrupting their lives again and destroying what they had rebuilt. ”
UNHCR data show that this reality is already faced here in Brazil. Last year, the floods of Rio Grande do Sul impacted 2.4 million people, and at least 43,000 were refugees and refuge applicants. Most came from Venezuela and Haiti. “Brazil is increasingly affected by extreme weather events,” said Samantha. “Many [refugiados] They were already facing difficulties in establishing themselves in Brazil and, with the rains, lost again housing, goods and documents. ”
UNUR argues that refugees are included in public policies – Photo UNHCR/HENRY MACIAS
According to the UNHCR representative, it is important that these refugees and displaced be included in prevention, adaptation and climate response policies. so that the impacts caused by climate emergencies are minimized. “This means investing in safe housing, alerting and resilient infrastructure systems in welcoming communities, as well as ensuring access to resources such as water, energy and subsistence means. Another urgent measure is to expand global climate financing to reach the most affected people,” he said.
The show will be on display until September 15 at Congonhas Airport. “Airports are places of departures and restarts – a direct symbol of the journey of those who are forced to leave everything behind. Installing this exposure at Congonhas airport, one of the busiest in Brazil, expands the visibility of these stories and invites thousands of people to reflect on the connection between forced displacement and climate change,” said Samantha. “On the eve of COP 30, this is also an opportunity to remember that, behind the statistics on the climate crisis, there are real lives, with names, faces and trajectories of courage,” he added.
