The devastating effects of climate change are undeniable and have grown more alarming over the past ten years. Most recently, eight weeks of heavy rain and flash flooding in Pakistan caused a disaster that affected over 33 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about serious public health hazards confronting the affected communities, including the possibility of further spreading water- and vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. Pakistan's districts are still negatively impacted by heavy monsoon rains and unprecedented levels of flooding. This chapter aims to highlight the policies that local governments should adopt to deal with health issues raised by the flood. Furthermore, this chapter also recommends policies related to logistics and transportation which overcome health issues.
TopIntroduction:
The 2022 floods in Pakistan have been described as one of the worst in recent years, affecting millions of people and causing widespread destruction. According to reports, the floods began in July 2022 and affected at least 17 districts in the province of Sindh, including Karachi, the country's largest city. The floods caused significant damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops, leading to widespread displacement and homelessness. According to the United Nations, over a million homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving many families without shelter. In addition, the floods also caused widespread power outages and disruptions to water and sanitation systems, exacerbating the difficulties faced by those affected. The impact on people's lives has been profound, with many losing their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. In some cases, entire communities were destroyed, leaving people with nowhere to go and no means of supporting themselves. The floods also disrupted access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and financial services, making it difficult for people to access the support they need. In response to the disaster, the government and aid organizations have been working to provide relief to those affected, including food, shelter, and medical assistance. However, the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed existing resources, and many people are still in need of support.
According to reports, the floods have had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including women, children, and older people. Women and girls are particularly at risk, as they face increased levels of violence and exploitation in displacement camps, and have limited access to basic services such as toilets and washing facilities. The 2022 floods in Pakistan have had a devastating impact on the lives of those affected, with many people losing their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. Addressing the root causes of the floods, including inadequate disaster preparedness and response measures, is critical to reducing the damage caused by future floods and protecting the lives and livelihoods of people in Pakistan. The further below we will discuss how flood caused by climate change in Pakistan.
Climate Change and Monsoon Rains
I. Climate Change
Climate change is appeared to be a significant topic among international researchers and environmental practitioners (Waber, 2010). Likewise Fawizy et al., (2020) mentioned that climate change is defined as the shift in climate deviations particularly affected by the emission of greenhouse gas from the natural cycle and artificial human activities. Moreover, Climate has an impact on the development and revival of contagious diseases. (Patiz et al.,1996).
Factors Of Climate Change
Some of the greatest ambiguity comes from possible synergies among climate change causes, especially when a single component might have several consequences. Sea level rise, for example, would influence dead zones and has the potential to affect both oxygen availability and biological responses to hypoxia through many paths. (Alteri et al., 2015) Furthermore, the restricting factor within an agricultural landscape (water or temperature impacts) influences adaptation technique uptake differently across locations and farming systems. (Nilis et al., 2015)