Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old environment and climate activist, has donated 100,000 euro towards the flood relief efforts in Bangladesh and Northeast India.
On Tuesday, the young Swedish activist promised to donate funds to multiple organisations that have been helping in fighting the adverse effects of climate change in the flood-hit regions of Bangladesh and Northeast India.
In a series of tweets, Greta confirmed the news herself. She wrote, “Right now millions are suffering from extreme flooding fuelled by the climate crisis in India and Bangladesh-already hit by the devastation of cyclone Amphan and Covid-19. My foundation will donate €100.000 prize money to BRAC, Goonj, Action Aid India and Bangladesh.”
In India, more than 6.8 million people have been affected by recent severe monsoon floods. The north-eastern states of Assam and Bihar are particularly badly affected, with 113 deaths recorded since this year's monsoon season began. Meanwhile, close to one-third of Bangladesh is already suffering flooding, with 2.8 million people affected. Although floods occur annually in these areas, the climate crisis is increasing their frequency and intensity, with current flooding among the worst in years.
This flooding has also come during a period of overlapping crises facing communities in Bangladesh and India. In March, Cyclone Amphan destroyed crops, infrastructure and more than 260,000 homes in both countries, while a Covid-19 lockdown has contributed to over a third of Bangladesh's population dropping under the poverty line.
On July 22, Greta had pledged to donate 1 million euros (more than $1.14 million) of prize money to different organisations making efforts to battle climate change. She was honoured with the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, which recognises people for their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
