ISLAMABAD (AP) — An estimated 200,000 people in Pakistan could be affected by the upcoming monsoon season, which is expected to bring heavier rainfall than normal, a senior U.N. official warned Thursday.
The United Nations, with the help of local authorities, has drawn up a contingency plan with $40 million set aside to respond to any emergencies, said Mohamed Yahya, the newly appointed Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan.
Yahya told journalists in Islamabad that weather forecasters in Pakistan predict above-normal rainfall in the coming weeks. However, the rains would not be as heavy as in 2022, when devastating floods killed 1,739 people, destroyed 2 million homes and at one point covered as much as a third of the country.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, partly because of its immense northern glaciers, which are now melting as air temperatures rise. Warmer air can also hold more moisture, making monsoon rains more intense.
Until recently, public opinion and even some government officials paid little attention to the potential negative impacts of climate change on daily life. Pakistan’s weather patterns have changed in recent years, forcing cities to strengthen their infrastructure and farmers to adapt their practices.
The 2022 floods caused more than $30 billion in damage to Pakistan’s already cash-strapped economy.
Analysts and government officials say Pakistan has failed to achieve economic growth targets in recent years due to man-made disasters, which have repeatedly hit the country in the form of drought, heat waves and heavy rains, affecting road network, bridges and the power supply are seriously damaged. system and other infrastructure.
Pakistan says that despite contributing less than 1% of global CO2 emissions, it is bearing the brunt of global climate disasters. This year, Pakistan recorded its wettest April since 1961, with more than double the usual monthly rainfall.
Yahya said he was in touch with officials from Pakistan’s climate change ministry, who were preparing their own contingency plans for the monsoon season, which runs from July to October in Pakistan.
Earlier this week, weather forecasters in Pakistan urged people to stay indoors as the third heat wave in a month began. A recent study by the United Nations children’s agency shows that Pakistan could prevent 175,000 deaths by 2030 by developing resilient energy systems to power its healthcare facilities.
On Thursday, temperatures rose as high as 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in several parts of Pakistan, forcing many people to stay indoors. Authorities are asking people to hydrate and avoid unnecessary travel.
