Number of climate migrants increasing in Uzbekistan due to Aral Sea 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that between 1990 and 2100 sea levels could rise by a total of 0.18 to 0.6 meters. And the problems with this have already started.

For example, about half of the population of Bangladesh lives 5 meters below sea level. In 1995, half of Bhola Island in Bangladesh was submerged by rising sea levels, leaving 500,000 people stranded. It is estimated that the country will lose 17% of its land to floods by 2050. This could lead to up to 20 million climate refugees in Bangladesh.

In addition, the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the Marshall Islands, and the city of Venice in Italy are also at the forefront of the areas that are sinking under water.

As the water level rises, the desertification of dry lands continues. For example, the Gobi desert in China is expanding by 3,600 square kilometers every year. As a result, the agricultural area is turning into a desert, and the people are moving to other cities in China to live.

Morocco, Tunisia and Libya are losing more than 1,000 square kilometers of fertile land due to desertification every year. The population is forced to seek refuge in the Maghreb, which is located in the northwest of Africa, or in Europe.

Climate migrants caused by the Aral Sea

In Central Asia, the majority of the population lives in villages. In some countries of the region, up to 45% of GDP and 20-50% of jobs are related to agriculture. This is a sign that Central Asia should be more concerned about its own land. Drought and other extreme weather conditions in the region are leading to limited water resources and land degradation. This speeds up migrations.

In particular, the drying up of the Aral Sea of   Uzbekistan is seriously affecting the living conditions of the people of Karakalpakstan. The Muynak district, located in the south of the Aral Sea, remains the region most affected by the drying up of the sea.

The government is taking measures to improve the living conditions of the district residents. For example, in 2021, a one-time aid of 5 million soums was distributed to residents of the district, the “Muynoqga madad” (“Assistance to Muynak”) charity eco-bicycle marathon and a number of other economic measures encouraged them in a certain sense. But it remains impossible to improve the ecology of the area. This causes the population to leave their land and the emergence of climate migrants.