Funding needed for climate disasters has risen ‘more than 800%’ in 20 years

Women drink water at a distribution point at Muuri, one of 500 camps for the half a million-plus people who have abandoned their homes in Somalia’s worst drought for 40 years. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

The funding needed by UN climate disaster appeals has soared by more than 800% in 20 years as global heating takes hold. But only about half of it is being met by rich countries, according to a new report by Oxfam.

Last year was the third costliest on record for extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and wildfires with total economic costs estimated at $329bn, nearly double the total aid given by donor nations.