The flooding in Pakistan in August and September 2022 – described by UN secretary general António Guterres as a “monsoon on steroids” – led to the deaths of more than 1,700 people and 33 million losing their homes, land or jobs. About 800,000 cattle and other livestock perished and 28,000 schools and health clinics were damaged.
Researchers from Islamic Relief who talked to people in the flood-affected areas found 40% of the children they surveyed had stunted growth and 25% were underweight as families struggle to access food and healthcare. About 80% of mothers reported sickness among children, with outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue fever increasing.
Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to changes in the climate with its farming sector particularly exposed to extreme weather conditions. The world’s sixth most populous country was responsible for just 0.88% of global emissions in 2020 – less than one-eighth of the US’s per capita emissions and one-third those of the UK. The report called for Pakistan to be a priority for increased climate financing.