Global warming and immigration Essay

Climate change is the long term alteration of spheric weather patterns oddly temperature and storm activity which occur as a result of the greenhouse effect. With scholars predicting deterioration in ball-shaped environmental conditions in the 21st century, we must focus our attention on the implications this situation will begin particularly to human population and settlement. The resulting displacement has led to a rise in environmental refugees as more communities leave their homes in search of alternative sources of livelihood. (Ketel, 2004, p. 2)Immigration due to planetary warming A study by the United Nations reveals that human migration caused by global warming is expected to surpass only previous displacements. The effects of flooding, desertification and environmental pollution are partly or wholly credited to global warming (Ketel, 2004, p. 15). In countries such as Zimbabwe and Bangladesh which experience perennial flooding, community based and non-governmental orga nizations are collaborating with the local anesthetic communities to raise awareness on disaster preparedness and disaster management practices.The Zimbabwe Case study or so of north and eastern Zimbabwe has been demarcated as flood prone areas, particularly the districts of Mzarabani and Guruve located at heart the low cunning Zambezi basin. Initially, these areas were sparsely populated due to adverse environmental conditions that rendered them uninhabitable. However after realizing that the area had a high up economic potential, the government opened it up for agricultural exploitation and settlement a condition that has loose its inhabitants to floods and mudslides.Successful undertakings Since 2008, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has participated in relief efforts to provide assistance to families in these areas such as providing blankets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets and water purifying tablets as well as coordinating information on the number of displace d hoi polloi and where they have been resettled. Community based projects have been initiated aimed at empowering the local community with the skills to withstand flooding thereby mitigating its effects.Structural measures were aimed at constructing dams and channels to control run-off during the rainy season while non-structural measures focused on resettlement, prognostic and setting aside areas to settle the displaced. (Madamombe, 2005, p. 18) In early 2007, such efforts bore fruit as hundreds of families were safely evacuated into Arda Estates of Mzarabani District following devastating floods that swept away over 600 homesteads in Chadereka Village.The displaced families were then allocated small plots within the Estates for subsistence farming while the remainder had to rely on handouts from NGOs such as Catholic Development focussing (CADEC) and IOM. Assistance require in undertaking program These projects required some level of assistance in the form of multi- heavensal meetings on flood management, funding, campaigns and governmental legislation on disaster management.The Zimbabwe government introduced the Civil tax shelter Act, the Water Act (1998) and the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Act from each one aimed at addressing an serve plan of action for disaster management/mitigation. Zimbabwe is also a member of the Zambezi Action Program (ZACPRO), an scuttle which aims to integrate all countries lying within the Zambezi basin to utilize it as a shared resource. However, each country follows its own policy on managing its portion of the Zambezi basin.(Madamombe, 2004, p. 3) Shortcomings The Zimbabwe government faced a variety of vault in its resettlement efforts inadequate funding, disease, resistance from local families and logistical barriers. The governments expenditure on disaster management is quite minimal and hence in a major catastrophe, private sector and international community would have to be approached for assista nce. (Madamombe, 2005, p. 20)Since resettlement is a recurrent process, most displaced families returned to their homes preferring to risk other flood than surrender their dignity and independence by living in resettlement camps. Conflicts due to shortsighted vetting of displaced persons led to undeserving cases receiving handouts while the genuine cases remained in despair and uncertainty. Greater effort is therefore required in undertaking civic education to curtail the humanitarian situation from spiraling out of control. ReferencesKetel, H. (2004). Global Warming and Human Migration Climate Change, Human Systems and Policy. Oxford, UK Eolss Publishers. Madamombe, E. (2004) Zimbabwe Flood Management Practices Selected Flood prone areas Zambezi Basin. Switzerland World meteorologic Organization/Global Water Partnership. Madamombe, E. (2005). Associated Programme on Flood Management Overview Situation Paper on Flood Management Practices. Switzerland World Meteorological Organiza tion/Global Water Partnership.