By Ethan Wong
In November 2023, the Military Responses to Climate Hazards (MiRCH) identified 10 military responses to climate change-related hazards, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and landslides. The tracker documented deployments in 8 countries.
In East Africa, intense rainfall throughout November has led to extensive flooding in the region, particularly in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The ongoing rain and floods have killed dozens and displaced nearly a million people. National defense forces in all three countries deployed to conduct rescue operations, transport supplies, and assist with relief efforts. The catastrophic flooding follows the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in four decades, which intensified the flash floods because dry soil is much less absorbent, highlighting the compounding risks of extreme weather events. With the floods destroying crops and livestock, the incident also demonstrates how climate change can deepen humanitarian emergencies, exacerbating the acute food crisis caused by the drought.
Meanwhile, militaries in Spain and the United States tackled climate-induced wildfires. At the request of the Valencia regional government, the Spanish Military Emergency Unit assisted with firefighting operations and the evacuation of 850 people in early November after winds from Storm Ciarán intensified a wildfire in eastern Spain. In Virginia, the National Guard deployed ground crews and helicopters to battle the Quaker Run Fire in Shenandoah National Park following the declaration of a state of emergency on November 6. Similarly, while first deployed at the end of October, US Army helicopters continued to provide fire suppression this month to contain a wildfire on Oahu. The fire occurred mostly within the Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge, burning through forestland that is home to nearly two dozen endangered species, underscoring the risks of climate-hazards to fragile ecosystems.
Elsewhere, militaries responded to the consequences of intense storms, including damage to military facilities and communities. In Alaska, the US Coast Guard supported search and rescue operations after heavy rains caused a deadly landslide near the town of Wrangell. The Royal New Zealand Navy was also dispatched to Fiji to help transport food, supplies, and emergency personnel to several islands most affected by Tropical Cyclone Mal in mid-November. Additionally, in the UK, Storm Ciarán caused widespread flooding on Thorney Island, including at Baker Barracks, where army personnel assisted with repairs and community recovery efforts, like using troop carriers to transport children through flooded areas to school.
Finally, Mexico’s ongoing military response to the impact of Hurricane Otis last month draws attention to how climate hazards can undermine basic services and public safety. Early this month, the government announced that an additional 9,500 National Guard troops will be permanently deployed to the municipality of Acapulco to guarantee security, particularly due to crime and widespread looting of scarce food, water, and other goods following the destructive hurricane. 38 bases will be constructed across the city to house the personnel.
To see the full MiRCH tracker with new updates for November, click here.