A severe monsoon season — the latest indicator that our climate crisis is quickly becoming a humanitarian one as well — has hit Pakistan and is leaving behind a wave of destruction.
The deadly flash flooding is the product of an eight-week, unbroken cycle of storms, with deluges that have swept away buildings and even entire villages, ruined an estimated 4 million acres of crops and other infrastructure, and killed more than 1,100 people, according to the Associated Press. The weather has impacted at least 33 million residents.
While monsoons and flood seasons are common in tropical areas and countries bordering the Indian Ocean, storms are becoming increasingly dangerous. The new extremes are a culmination of rising global temperatures, which allow the atmosphere to hold more water and boosts the odds of extreme downpours. Intense flooding has become increasingly common, and climate scientists only expect these deluges and other extreme weather events to grow even more extreme.
Additionally concerning, not everyone has rushed to aid communities in Pakistan trying to bail themselves out of the extreme flooding, even though it's the fifth most populous country in the world and has ranked among the highest in climate risk assessments. On Aug. 30, the United Nations issued a flash appeal to international governments asking for additional aid beyond a U.N. pledge of $160 million.
Sherry Rehman, a senator and Pakistan's federal minister for climate change, has remained outspoken about the current crisis, calling the situation "a real Planet SOS" caused by an "apocalyptic flood".
"South Asia is one of the world’s global climate crisis hotspots."
The disparate reaction to this ongoing disaster mirrors real-world inequalities in international aid and, fundamentally, the climate crisis, as historically colonized, poor, and "Global South" countries bear the brunt of climate change and pollution.
In his appeal, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the need for other countries to step up. "South Asia is one of the world’s global climate crisis hotspots. People living in these hotspots are 15 times more likely to die from climate impacts," he said. "Today, it’s Pakistan. Tomorrow, it could be your country."
It's clear that it's the job of world leaders like Guterres to address the growing inequalities of both humanitarian and climate crises. Individuals can still help to raise awareness in community-driven ways, remaining conscious of how our donations can replicate the same power imbalances, and reiterate that we have to start stepping up to help those affected by devastating climate events.
Support relief organizations
The immediate needs of those affected by flash flooding include emergency rescue, temporary shelter, and basic needs like food, water, hygiene, and medical assistance. Both local and international nonprofits have been hard at work to get these supplies out to communities, working alongside government rescue operations.
The Prime Minister Flood Relief Fund 2022 is a joint appeal by the Government of Pakistan and the U.N. to address the humanitarian needs of more than 5 million people. The fund is distributing the U.N's pledged $160 million to "food security, assistance for agriculture and livestock, shelter and non-food items, nutrition programs, primary health services, protection, water and sanitation, women’s health, and education support, as well as shelter for displaced people." Individuals can also donate to the fund.
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International humanitarian organizations are also working to get to people on the ground to assist with recovery and rescue efforts for those misplaced or trapped by the flash floods.
Indus Flood Relief GoFundMe
Started by Pakistani writer and columnist Fatima Bhutto, artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia advisor Menaal Munshey, this GoFundMe supports families in the Upper Sindh, as well as local organizations working with vulnerable and affected populations, like the Legal Aid Society, the Edhi Foundation, the Child Life Foundation, and the Indus Earth Trust. You can find more information and updates about this fundraiser on its Instagram page.
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CARE
CARE is an international nonprofit working to end poverty, provide access to education, and address humanitarian crises on-the-ground. Organization members are distributing emergency relief supplies, including tents, tarps, emergency latrine kits, and hygiene items like toothbrushes, soap, period products, and underwear, among other aid. CARE Pakistan country director Adil Sheraz has called for community support to help "women, children, and people with special needs" in particular, who are in need of temporary shelter and essentials. CARE has established a donation hub specifically for Pakistan flood relief, which will go to building hygiene kits, blocks of emergency latrines, and temporary shelters.
Save the Children
As of Aug. 30, Save the Children, an international humanitarian organization focused on protecting the rights of children, has deployed humanitarian response teams across severely affected areas, including Shikarpur and Jacobabad in the Sindh, to distribute temporary shelters, kits with basic household necessities, hygiene and menstruation supplies, as well as food. Right now, donations to Save the Children's Emergency can't be earmarked for Pakistan flood relief specifically, but go towards several emergency efforts.
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee provides emergency relief to refugees and those impacted by humanitarian crises. The organization has conducted on-the-ground needs assessments in Pakistan and has said its focus is on providing clean drinking water, food, safe latrines for women and girls, hygiene products, and critical healthcare for those affected. Donations to the IRC support its broader humanitarian initiatives in both Pakistan and other conflict-affected areas. The donations fund medical care, emergency relief kits, and food.
International Medical Corps
The International Medical Corps, a first response organization helping those affected by conflict, disaster, or disease around the world, has partnered with the Department of Health in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh to provide essential medical care, water purification, as well as mental health support and other WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services.
Local organizations are, as always, providing immediate relief to their communities. if you're unable to make international donations to Pakistan-based nonprofits, consider sharing their work online to connect organizations to those that can.
Alkhidmat Foundation
The Alkhidmat Foundation is one of the country's leading humanitarian non-profits, providing disaster, health, education, and community services, as well as financial assistance. Currently, the foundation is organizing humanitarian relief for flood victims in the form of medical camps and treatment, freshly-cooked food and ration kits, and temporary shelter tarps.
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Legal Aid Society Pakistan
The Legal Aid Society of Pakistan is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to support marginalized and underprivileged communities in gaining fair and equal legal support. The LAS team is collecting donations in order to distribute dry ration kits and other forms of support for displaced households.
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HERPakistan
HERPakistan, founded in 2018 by Sana Lokhandwala and Sumaira Lokhandwala, is an education and advocacy nonprofit that provides menstrual health, puberty, and sexual health education and supplies to girls around Pakistan. The organization is providing emergency period supplies to girls and women affected by the crisis.
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Karachi Relief Trust
The Karachi Relief Trust is a disaster management volunteer organization originally founded to help the victims of the 2007 Cyclone Yemyin, which destroyed parts of India and Pakistan. Since then, the organization has continued to provide basic necessities, shelter, medical assistance, and ration kits to those affected by floods and other humanitarian crises. Right now, the trust is providing food, shelter, medical supplies, and household goods to flood victims.
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Saylami Welfare International Trust
The Saylami Welfare International Trust was founded 22 years ago by Hazrat Allama Maulana Muhammad Bashir Farooqi to address poverty and inequality in Pakistan. It has since founded 600 chapters around the world to provide various education, health, welfare, and disaster services. Currently, the trust is collecting funds to create and distribute ration bags, shelter kits, mosquito kits, and provide food and medical services to 200 affected people.
Keep sharing
The lack of attention to Pakistan's two-month-long flooding crisis is a major concern for local leaders, activists, and humanitarian organizations. In order to galvanize broader international support for those affected, individuals need to amplify the direct needs of communities. Follow climate activists, like Rise Up founder Vanessa Nakate or Fridays for Future organizer Dominique Palmer, as well as climate scientists, like professors Katharine Hayhoe, Daniel Swain, and Ed Hawkins, who are sharing further context to these climate crises.
Activists and organizers around the world have also compiled a flood relief google sheet, which lists organizations and people in need of support, as well as additional information like where they're located and how you can assist their efforts.
Advocate for aggressive climate policy
Severe floods and extreme weather phenomenon like these will continue — and they'll increase in extremity. It's no longer a question of individual choice, but a political issue that must be addressed in aggressive and intersectional ways. Disasters like this will continue to affect various global communities in different, often more dangerous ways, likely without a redistribution of climate care, investment, and infrastructure.
In order to move beyond climate misinformation and economic and ecological inequality, we all have to pay attention and speak up. Become a climate advocate in your area, join global activists in protest, and donate to organizations lobbying global actors to make impactful policy change.
This story will continue to be updated.
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