FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO – The United Nations warns, 41 million people in the coastal areas of the Caribbean and Latin America face life-threatening meteorological conditions due to climate change. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that about 1,450 hospitals, vital for maternal health and family planning, are in low-lying coastal areas at risk to extreme weather. More than 80% of hospitals in Aruba, Cayman Islands, Suriname, Bahamas, and also Guyana are at high risk.
“Climate change impacts women and girls the hardest and worsens existing inequalities,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. Millions of poor and vulnerable women and girls, who have not contribute to much to climate change, suffer the most when disasters disturb necessary health services.
Regional leaders are meeting in Antigua and Barbuda to address these issues, highlighting the need for stronger commitments under the Paris Agreement and influencing wealthy nations to fulfill their $100 billion annual pledge to help poorer countries lessen extreme weather impacts.
