At the US-Mexico border, thousands of migrants, including many children, endure life-threatening heat. With the escalating impacts of climate change, extreme weather conditions in the Sonoran Desert pose a grave risk of dehydration and fatalities for those attempting to enter the United States.
e scorching Sonoran Desert at the US-Mexico border takes a grim toll on migrants, with a significant number being children. The relentless advance of climate change intensifies the harsh weather conditions, putting those attempting to enter the US at a perilous risk of dehydration and even death.
To pinpoint the most lethal areas along the US-Mexico border, scientists and researchers utilized a biophysical model of human dehydration. Their findings revealed that the primary cause of most deaths was severe dehydration. In compiling data from areas with fatalities, the report established links between severe dehydration, which proves fatal, water loss, organ failure, disorientation, and physiological challenges akin to those observed in certain animal species.
Ryan Long, an associate professor of wildlife sciences at the University of Idaho, emphasized the need for access to drinking water sources to effectively mitigate risks, particularly in regions with the highest rates of water loss during border crossings.
Regrettably, models designed to combat climate change and water scarcity signal that these border crossings will grow even more perilous over time. This compounds the already significant number of people who do not survive the journey, underscoring the urgency of taking immediate measures to address this crisis.
