Entire countries to disappear forever due to rising seas – UN
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In the coming decades, low-lying communities and entire countries may disappear forever due to rising seas, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday.
The danger is acute for about 900 million people living on coastlines at low elevations, Guterres told the Security Council.
“Devastation is already evident in many parts of the world,” he said.
On February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Turkey, killing tens of thousands and injuring many more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
“Under any temperature rise scenario, countries from Bangladesh to China, India and the Netherlands will all be at risk,” he added.
“We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale,” according to the UN official.
On the other hand, the Secretary-General said that the phenomenon also jeopardizes access to water, food and healthcare.
“We would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources,” he warned.