As the world continues to heat up, close to half a billion children globally are living in regions that experience at least twice as many extremely hot days as their grandparents did.
That’s according to new research by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The findings highlight the rapid escalation of extreme heat events, laying bare the fact that one in five children - that’s around 466 million - are exposed to these often dangerous conditions every year.
UNICEF compared data from the 1960s with the average temperatures from 2020-2024. In the process, they discovered a dramatic increase in the number of extremely hot days - defined as those exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
The trend poses a serious threat for many, particularly children and other vulnerable groups who live in areas lacking the necessary infrastructure or services to cope with such extreme temperatures.
“What used to be the hottest summer days are now the norm,” Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, told AfricaNews. “This surge in extreme heat is disrupting children’s health, well-being, and daily lives.”
UNICEF’s analysis shows that in 16 nations, children now endure over a month of additional extremely hot days every year compared to 60 years ago.
In South Sudan, the average number of extremely hot days rose from 110 in the 1960s to 165 today. In Paraguay, that number has nearly doubled from 36 to 71.
It’s children living in West and Central Africa who face the highest exposure to these dangerously hot days - and they’re increasing all the time.
In that region alone, the analysis shows that some 123 million children - 39 per cent - are suffering through extreme temperatures for more than a third of each year.
Countries including Senegal, Niger, Mali and Sudan are particularly affected - with children there forced to endure an average of at least 195 extremely hot days annually.
A further 48 million children living in Latin America and the Caribbean are currently residing in areas where the number of extremely hot days has doubled.
Exposure to extreme temperatures poses unique health risks - particularly for children and pregnant women.
Without proper cooling interventions, rare in underdeveloped areas, heat stress can lead to severe complications, ranging from malnutrition to an increased vulnerability to diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
Prolonged exposure to severely high temperatures can also have long-term impacts on children’s neurodevelopment, mental health and overall well being.
The impact of climate-related hazards on children is compounded further by factors including infrastructure damage, food and water insecurity and displacement.
UNICEF is calling on world leaders and governments as well as the
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Thoughts of fall travel might conjure up images of cozy cabins and hiking through fiery red foliage. This autumn, however, a wave of new airline routes from the US is shaking up the usual pumpkin-spice-laced doldrums and offering easy new ways to access exciting destinations. Think city escapes in Northern Africa, beaches on tiny Caribbean islands, and lush nature in Oceania.
With summer coming to an end, make the best of it by embarking on a holiday in Türkiye. Perfect for solo travels and family trips, Türkiye offers the most varied experiences in the Mediterranean. From the vibrant cultural tapestry of İstanbul to the sun-kissed shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, each Turkish destination offers a journey filled with many unforgettable experiences, complemented by world-famous Turkish hospitality and cuisine.
The Labor Day holiday travel period is approaching fast, and AAA booking data suggests cruising to Alaska and flying to Seattle are two of the most popular options for 2024.
If the end of summer has you craving more vacation time, a new offer could be just the ticket. Wizz Air, based in Budapest, recently announced an «All You Can Fly» subscription pass that allows travelers to journey throughout the world for just a few hundred dollars. For a very limited time, the program is only €499 (approximately $537) per year, and the price jumps to €599 (approximately $657) from August 16, 2024. Travelers can begin using their flight pass for flights after September 25, 2024. While the program has the subscription fee, the flights are technically not free. Travelers are charged a small €10 (approximately $11) fee for each flight segment they book, according to the program's terms.
Lake Como, in northern Italy, conjures images of glistening blue water, opulent villas and villages where celebrities like Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Amal and George Clooney try to dodge the paparazzi.
The summer travel season may be drawing to a close, but it’s not over yet. In fact, Labor Day weekend will likely be one of the busiest times to try and take a trip this summer, if the Fourth of July’s record-breaking number of passengers for a single day (3 million) is any indication.