The leader of the project Global Goals and Migration, Diakonie ČCE – Stredisko humanitárnej a rozvojovej spolupráce, published a short video on climate migration in February, thereby also launching the national awareness campaign "Páli Vás to?". The video shows the situation in Cambodia, where Diakonie has been active for a long time. Cambodia is among the countries in Southeast Asia most threatened by the negative impacts of climate change, which is one of the major push factors of labor migration in the country.
Embedded media: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZRDKX2m-w8I
Besides floods, droughts and destructive storms, people there are also threatened by epidemics, fires and other risks that can be potential triggers of disasters, having a significant impact on agricultural production, and thus on food security. Approximately 80% of the Cambodian population works in agriculture, which is their only source of livelihood and income. Therefore, more than one million Cambodian men and women leave home and work legally or illegally abroad, mostly in Thailand. However, irregular male and female migrants often work in substandard and very unfavorable working conditions.
The Cambodian government is aware of these challenges and tries to address them through structural changes and plans. International development cooperation is also essential, as it can support both local governments in their development efforts and local communities, increasing their capacity and resilience.
This is precisely why Diakonie ČCE – Stredisko humanitárnej a rozvojovej spolupráce also operates in Cambodia and implements projects there focused on climate change adaptability in agriculture (CCAA – Climate Change Adaptive Agriculture). In practice, this means that the projects support farmers in starting to use new agricultural techniques on their land (for example, drip irrigation), increasing their production, and thereby setting an example for their neighbors. It is important to provide farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them adapt to climate change impacts, mitigate them, and build resilience. Even simple solutions and small support can sometimes bring about significant positive change. Farmers can thus increase their income thanks to new crop-growing methods and subsequently higher production, so they do not have to migrate to large cities or neighboring Thailand and can stay at home with their families.
More can be understood from Diakonie's new video created within the Global Goals and Migration project (and the Faces of Migration campaign), funded by the EU through DEAR. The video is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRDKX2m-w8I&t=69s
Source: https://www.ambrela.org/