Can Southeast Asia cope with record-breaking storms?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 1 min read 100% complete December 8, 2025 at 08:16 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Southeast Asia is experiencing a record-breaking storm season in 2025, with thousands dead or missing across Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Another storm is forming in the Philippine Sea, exacerbating the crisis. Governments are struggling to afford repeated rebuilding efforts as storm seasons worsen. Simultaneously, the UN has halved its 2026 budget for war and natural disaster response, leaving Southeast Asian countries increasingly to manage recovery efforts independently. Experts are discussing the impact of these storms on lives and livelihoods and the future of flood recovery in the region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sri Lanka 30% Thailand 30% Vietnam 40% Indonesia 50% Philippines ×260% UN 70% Southeast Asia ×480%

Keywords

southeast asia 100% storms 90% natural disasters 80% flood recovery 70% climate change 60% budget cuts 50% united nations 50% environmental economics 40%