Bangladesh and now Pakistan: the impact of rising CO2 emissions resulting in climate change is being felt worldwide, with natural disasters occurring almost weekly. But countries in the developing world are most affected despite contributing the least to CO2 emissions. The whole world needs to come together to halt the emissions of CO2. And right now, we need to support countries that are suffering the brunt of a crisis they did not cause.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 46 of the least developed countries (LDCs), account for only 1,1% of global CO2 emissions.
Yet, in the past 50 years, 70% of deaths caused by climate-related disasters have occurred in the developing world. Sadly, global warming and climate change are causing untold suffering to the people who are not responsible for it and are least equipped to deal with the fallout. Adverse effects impact economic development and cause:
This situation will only worsen as the impact of climate change increases if there is no political will to change the status quo. Unless global leaders unite to halt CO2 emissions, the incidences of ‘natural’ disasters will increase, and the poor will get poorer.
The people in LDCs who have been affected by climate change need help now!
Governments are ill-equipped to deal with the needs and charity organisations and NGOs have had to step up.
At World Care Foundation (WCF), we work in several developing countries delivering emergency aid to people who have been severely impacted by climate change. These include relief projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Pakistan in particular has been severely affected by climate change, with excessive and erratic rainfall causing major floods, since June this year. Several areas have been hit hard including Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The annual monsoon season is essential for the irrigation of crops and for replenishing dams and lakes, but the effect of climate change has caused the rains to be destructive. The rainfall in some regions has been up to 600% of the annual average.
Approximately 33 million people have been affected – that’s 1 in 7 Pakistanis! People have lost their homes and livelihoods, as farmland and entire villages have been washed away.
These numbers are expected to rise due to unsafe health conditions and overcrowding in the camps that affected people have relocated to.
Survivors are in desperate need of safe drinking water and food as well as health care, medication and shelter. Our teams are on the ground providing relief in the worst-hit areas in the form of food packs, medical support, emergency survival kits and temporary shelters.
We’re assisting thousands who are trapped as they wait for water levels to recede, and those who’ve had to flee to survive. They are traumatised and afraid – uncertain where their next meal will come from or whether they will find shelter.
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World Care Foundation | Charity Details Registered in Scotland SC046662. Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
