As a journalist, I feel compelled to share the story of Delfino Davies, a 53-year-old man who was born on a small island in the Caribbean, just like his father and grandfather. During my visit five years ago, he shared with us that he probably wouldn’t die on this sinking island due to climate change. Unfortunately, the greenhouse gases warming the oceans and causing sea levels to rise have led to the evacuation of Gardi Sugdup, one of 365 small islands off the north coast of Panama.
Delfino and the other 1500 residents have moved to new houses on the mainland. The boat trip to the island, which was as small as five football fields and knee-high out of the Caribbean water, took just 15 minutes. The inhabitants, the Kuna indigenous people, lived in a tight-knit community with alleys and huts. The rickety shacks on stilts extended beyond the island’s edge into the sea, leaving them vulnerable to storms.
During my visit, Delfino showed me the impact of rising sea levels on Gardi Sugdup. Huts were torn away and structures were underwater. Despite some resistance from those attached to their island, like 81-year-old Ezequiel Chary, the evacuation was necessary. Panama invested twelve million dollars to build new homes for the Kuna on the mainland, with better infrastructure and protection from rising sea levels. The relocation efforts are just one step in mitigating the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities like those living in Gardi Sugdup.
Gardi Sugdup is just one example of how climate change is affecting small islands around the world. Scientists warn that sea levels are rising by 2.4 centimeters per year around these islands posing a significant risk to communities living there
