NAWABSHAH:Experts and civil society activists have termed the recent flood as one of the most devastating floods of recent history caused by climate change, which has affected the economy, infrastructure, and food security of the most vulnerable segments of society in Pakistan.
They expressed these views while addressing a public forum on ‘Climate Justice: Drop the Debt for Build Better Back Pakistan’ organized by National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) in collaboration with the Indus Consortium and Grow Green Network.
Speakers Abid Lashari, Tarique Hussain Channar, Farooque Bhatti, Akram Khaskheli, Lal Chand, Ishaque Malana and others said that as per precipitation, rainfall was more than 1700 mm in a few towns and approximately 1100mm on average in the entire country
The recent reports and projections of the World Bank and IMF world economic outlook report projected that the number of poverty-stricken people will increase in the future along with severe food security issues, & high inflation.
They demanded that Pakistan needs 30 billion dollars to build back better, which should be provided under nature for debt swaps by the IFIs and global emitters.
As per National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 1696 people died, 12867 injured, 2048789 houses damaged, 440 bridges were completely washed away, 13097.98 km of road infrastructure was damaged, 634,749 population is living in camps and 33 million people has been displaced from their abodes. These all are the worst impacts of climate change on our lives.
Institutions tackling disaster issues including DDMA, PDMA, and NDMA were extensively engaged in responding to catastrophe but it is far beyond the human and one country’s capacity.
While speaking on the occasion Chairman NDF Abid Lashari further said that “Millions of people across the country were at risk of or are already facing energy and water crises, as well as food insecurity, as a result of lower-than-expected agricultural production owing to climate shocks, increased insecurity, and higher food costs.
Pakistan’s food security situation is anticipated to worsen further in 2023.
Flood-affected community males and females presented testimonies and shared their views and worries about how the rain flood has devastated their houses, lands, lives, and livelihood. The floods have increased the transmission of water- and vector-borne diseases and posed health risks for communities.
He demanded that the rehabilitation and compensation packages should be all-inclusive and that poor people, landless farmers, women-headed households, non-Muslims, and transgender should be given priority.
This is high time that all the developed countries should come forward and joined hands to face this devastating situation.
The participants signed a charter of demand and demanded from multilateral banks for climate justice by debt swap for nature and spending the funds on the rehabilitation of flood-affected people.
Climate change activists also demanded from Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation for the transition of its intended funds from Tabeer LNG towards local solar and wind clean energy renewable sources.