Montreal, September 15, 2008 - An unusually hard-hitting monsoon season in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan has raised concerns about the impact of climate change on the world's poor. Since the torrential rains began in June, at least 1,000 people have died and over 3 million have been forced from their homes.
"Although the carbon footprint of the poor is a fraction of that of the rich, they are the ones that suffer the most from the extreme weather phenomena for which global rising temperatures are at least partly responsible. South Asia is highly vulnerable to such climate shocks, as many of its people already live in conditions of extreme poverty, and are unable to withstand such meteorological disasters," says Mary Durran, Advocacy and Research Program Officer at DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE. The carbon footprint is a measure of greenhouse gas emissions.
India is particularly at risk as almost half of its population relies on the Himalayan glaciers for its water supply. The ever rising temperatures are melting the glaciers, causing extreme flooding. "When the glaciers finish melting, the populations will be facing drought," warns Barbara Trachsel, Emergency Relief Program Officer at DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.
The combination of monsoon and glacier floods has destroyed infrastructure and damaged harvests in north-eastern regions of India, which will have a severe impact on the country's agricultural production.
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has already sent $ 50,000 to its partner Caritas India in order to respond to emergency needs for shelter, water, sanitation, food and medical services. Caritas India's project targets 270,000 persons in the country's north-east.
According to Caritas India's Executive Director Varghese Mattamana, "The current inundation is so massive that it has totally altered the habitation pattern of decades, if not centuries, with the flood waters surging through relatively safe villages, farmlands, fields, buildings and other infrastructure."
"The present situation is such that the marooned population has no option than to depend on external help for survival. Caritas teams [...] are already working on the ground and this appeal will help us respond further to the urgent needs of the survivors."
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE asks donors to contribute generously to its South Asia floods emergency fund. www.devp.org
-30-
Media Contact:
Eleonore Fournier-Tombs
514 257-8711 ext. 307
eleonore.fournier@devp.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Houston police officer Al Escobedo stands guard at a gas station as a man fills his gas can near downtown Houston September 15, 2008. Ice, bottled water and other vital supplies ...
