Issue Repeated disasters testing the limits of adaptation

Summary

The report finds that repeated exposure to disasters and climate impacts is testing the adaptation limits of communities and infrastructure. The 2025 Pakistan floods killed more than 1,000 people and affected 7 million while the country was still recovering from the 2022 floods, straining recovery and adaptation and pushing vulnerable communities deeper into hardship. Hurricane Melissa caused very high economic losses and affected many people but had a comparatively moderate death toll, showing the value of early warning and early action. It also exposed hard limits, since whole islands with their buildings and infrastructure cannot simply be moved out of danger. In East Africa, persistent drought combined with conflict is leaving millions facing large-scale food insecurity. Many losses, such as land, cultural heritage and mental health, go unrecorded or cannot readily be quantified.