Climate Change Causes Catastrophic Floods in Pakistan

What Is Happening in Pakistan?

Catastrophic flash floods caused by torrential rains have swallowed up villages and washed away the entire livelihoods of most farming families in Pakistan. By August 22nd, the death toll had almost reached 800, over 1000 were injured, and even more had lost their homes. “I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I rushed outside and saw the entire area shaking, like it was the end of the world,” Azizullah, a survivor from Buner, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said to the BBC. 

The Northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suffered the most from the unprecedented disaster unfolding in the country, with 368 people dead, 182 injured, 1,300 homes damaged, and 100 schools destroyed just in the area alone by August 21st. Children have been especially affected in these areas as their schools have been destroyed, and many have no access to clean water. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is situated in a mountainous region, making it particularly challenging for aid organizations to reach the villages where people are most affected. Many survivors feel that the government has been inadequate in providing aid. A surge in malaria, fever, and skin infections has already been reported, and many face hunger and water shortages. 

The Southern province of Sindh saw severe flooding over the course of 2 days, which killed 52. Following heavy rains, India opened all gates of major dams, causing worse flooding in Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan. In July, Punjab had reported 75% more rainfall than in the previous year, and due to the excess water from the opened gates of the dams, areas near the Indus river and its tributaries were particularly affected.  

Why Is This Happening? 

Pakistan contributes to less than 1% of global carbon emissions, yet it is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. According to the World Population Review, China, the USA, India, Russia, and Japan are the top five countries with the highest carbon emissions in 2025. The constant burning of fossil fuels by many countries in the Global North has exponentially worsened the human-made climate crisis. Climate change has caused abnormal changes in temperature and weather, including record-breaking heat waves, deadly storms, wildfires, and droughts. 

Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist who studies water sources and risk in mountainous regions, said that events that were predicted to happen in 2050 have been occurring in 2025. A UN report stated that there has not been enough global funding to support the damage caused in Pakistan, and countries that are most responsible for climate change, like the United States and European countries, have not taken responsibility for the direct harm they have caused in the Global South. 

In Pakistan, low crop yields have led many to migrate to urban areas. The lack of urban planning by the government caused natural drainage systems to become weaker. Deforestation has also made the country more vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. All of these factors, combined with torrential rain in the monsoon season, have caused a horrifying disaster beyond imagination. Whole villages have been swallowed by debris and mud, dragged by the flash floods. 

What Is Predicted to Happen Next? 

The Pakistani government warned its officials to stay on high alert and prepare for evacuation orders, as heavy rain and high flood levels are predicted in many parts of the country in the first week of September. The monsoon season in Pakistan typically starts in July and lasts until September. Around 45% of the population in Pakistan lives below the poverty line, and many people have refused to leave their homes and their livestock, as it is their only means of survival. 

Similar unprecedented floods devastated the country back in 2022, and it has faced yet another crisis three years later. Many aid organizations and activists have called for donations and funding for the people affected. The crisis is far from over, and more catastrophic floods are expected within the coming weeks. 

To Donate :  

・UN Refugee Agency UNHR:  https://giving.unhcr.org/en/pakistan/

・All Khidmat Foundation:  https://alkhidmat.com/donate/flood-relief-kpk-ajk-gb-punjab/

・Islamic Relief Worldwide: https://islamic-relief.org/news/islamic-relief-delivers-aid-as-pakistan-floods-cause-devastation/

Written by まりか