Floods consuming roughly 75,000 sq km (46,602 sq miles) of Pakistan, roughly the size of the entire state of Pennsylvania, have now affected around 33 million, 15% of the nation’s population. Those are a lot of statistics to digest, leaving responders around the world conflicted as to how to process such a story.
While the UNHCR is focused on the task at hand, climate scientists are thinking back as to how such an issue could rise.
Pakistan’s merciless floods: coincidence or climate change?
The Issue
July marks the start of monsoon season in Pakistan.
Flash forward to the end of August. Imagine an area stretching north to south from Ithaca, NY pouring down through New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Northern Virginia to just beyond Washington, DC; west to east from State College PA, through the entire Eastern half of Pennsylvania, drowning New Jersey, New York City, and ruthlessly extending its feat to the very Eastern tip of Long Island, NY. Draw a circle around these points, and you are looking at the amount of land submerged underwater in Pakistan.
Compare the floods to your nearest US city using this link: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-floods-un-appeal-aid-monsoon-climate-change-rcna45219
This year’s “monster monsoon” brought rainfall 10 times greater than average, striking areas with 730% more rain than average. The aftermath can be seen by satellite image.
More than one million homes have been destroyed, two million acres of livestock, and almost 800,000 heads of livestock. Here proves the ties between multiple aspects of life knocked over like dominoes by such a natural disaster. Farms and medical facilities alike have been destroyed, leaving millions without access to health care and allowing the prices of cooking essentials such as tomatoes and onions to skyrocket.
The Cause
Glacial melts and climate change. As I conducted research for this article, I found that many mention glacial melt as additional fuel to the harsh flood waters already powered by heavy rainfall. It is easy to see that glacial melt is a result of global warming, but what about the monstrous monsoon?
Why did it rain so much?
This is the inception of this natural disaster. With power and stamina far exceeding average storms, this year’s rainfall has been undoubtedly strengthened by global warming. How?
As oceans become warmer, more water evaporates into the air, forming rain clouds in greater strength and quantity. Water also evaporates from land, drying soil beneath it. Dry soil lacks nutrients and bacteria necessary to absorb water. If water cannot be absorbed by the soil beneath it, it accumulates and surges over. This creates a daunting loop: evaporation strips soil of its defense while it prepares an attack of rain clouds.
As Pakistan sinks under such unstoppable floods, another force weighs them down. Glaciers.
Pakistan holds more glaciers than any nation outside the polar region. This year, the nation has seen triple the amount of glacial lake “outbursts”- an abrupt release of water from lakes fed by glacial melt- than in previous years. At the bottom of these glaciers sits a valley, Swat. Increasing temperatures have put this vulnerable tourist attraction at risk, and its destruction has been made a clear sign of global warming.
Conclusion
Pakistan contributes to less than 1% of planet-warming emissions, yet is ranked by the Global Climate Risk Index as the eighth most vulnerable nation to the climate crisis. As global warming continues to put vulnerable nations at risk, developing nations must take responsibility to cut planet-warming emissions.
In the meantime, nations across the globe are responding to the numerous humanitarian crises caused by these floods. As homes, farms, medical facilities, and other infrastructure leave millions of people suddenly homeless, the United Nations has launched a $160 million appeal. Here are their three objectives:
- First, delivering lifesaving assistance, such as health services, food, clean water and shelter.
- “Secondly, to prevent large outbreaks of communicable diseases such as cholera and assist small children and their mothers with nutrition.”
- Third, to ensure “people can access assistance and protection in a way that is both safe and dignified, including family tracing”.
China and the United Kingdom have already announced their pledges to provide relief.
While such a catastrophe may seem to be solely in the hands of international governments and organizations, there is always help needed from individuals.
Here are trusted organizations to donate to:
Thank you for reading!
A good evaluation Laila…
Well done!!!
I totally agree with these facts, but I think another cause of this destruction is mismanagement as well.
Pakistani government never planned seriously to build reservoirs and drains. Some of the natural drains in lower Sindh were blocked by construction of residential societies which caused huge destruction this year. Although the warning of unusual rains n floods was given in May, but people didn’t take it serious and didn’t migrate from certain places which caused huge loss.
May Allah SWT keep us safe.
Aameen.
Very well explained. Comparing the geographic scope with the US paints a stark picture. Thank You for including the contacts of relief organizations.