Imagine if a million Aussie homes were damaged or destroyed in the devastating floods we battled earlier this year. Imagine if 33 million folks had been directly impacted. Imagine if 500,000 of us had to go live in a camp. Imagine if Australia’s floods killed over 1100 people. If your stomach churns at the thought of this happening, well, both the ABC and The Guardian are reporting that this is the case in Pakistan.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this comparison wasn’t made to undermine the tragedy Australia has waded through. I’m using it to illustrate just how bad Pakistan’s monsoon rains have been this year. As Abid Qaiyum Suleri, a member of Pakistan’s Climate Change Council, said, “This year, Pakistan has received the highest rainfall in at least three decades.”
This man also noted, “Extreme weather patterns are turning more frequent in the region and Pakistan is not an exception.”
Pakistan and the Climate Crisis
“Wading through the flood-ravaged streets of the suburbs of the northern town of Nowshera, residents are beginning to try and return to their homes to inspect the damage and see what they can salvage,” wrote Secunder Kermani for the BBC. “Some used black rubber tubes to help float along the muddy brown water, which at times reached up to their chests, others stepped gingerly through it.”
Many people are rightly exclaiming that such devastation in Pakistan is the result of the climate crisis. “Let’s stop sleepwalking toward the destruction of our planet by climate change,” said the United Nations’ Secretary-General, António Guterres.
In another piece by The Guardian, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, was reported saying his country was being impacted by a “climate catastrophe.” He additionally stated, “We are suffering from it but it is not our fault at all.”
Related: Seven Life-Shaking Megatrends Predicted by Science
Related: The Latest IPCC Report Says It’s Now or Never – Here’s What We Need to Do to Solve Climate Change
How You Can Help Out Pakistan
If you have the funds, there are plenty of worthwhile charities out there supporting the people of Pakistan. For instance, UNICEF is helping folks get safe drinking water, lifesaving medical supplies, food, and hygiene kits. They’re also creating temporary learning centres for kids. You can help them out by clicking the link here.
Another charity is the Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, which has been working in this country since 1990. According to their website, they are a “non-political, non-governmental, and non-profit organisation” that’s “committed to serving humanity especially vulnerable and orphans without any kind of discrimination.”
You can suss out their donation page on their website. But just to let you know, your donation can either be in American dollars, German dollars, or British pounds.
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.