Climate change-related incidents pose negative effects on women: Study

As heavy monsoon rains and floods continue to wreak havoc on people's lives and resources in Pakistan, analysts have argued that climate change is producing negative effects on the psychological and reproductive health of women who bear the brunt of disasters.

Analysts have noted that climate change-related incidents, including floods and disasters, mostly affect women compared to their male counterparts. It has been observed through a study that climate change produces negative effects on the psychological and reproductive health of women who bear most of the disasters.

“There is evidence showing interrelationships between climate change, health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR),” says the study titled “Understanding climate change, the impact on women's reproductive health: post-harvest interventions” Disasters in Sindh”.

The scarcity of water and the absence of other services that women rely heavily on to run a household leaves them miserably stranded with no available resources to feed themselves. Most women in flood-affected areas that are dependent on agriculture experience huge yield loss, leading to food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition in their bodies. Lack of access to resources often creates stress and psychological problems for women, as they are confined to camps with no food or water nearby.

“Girls and pregnant women are vulnerable to psychological fears. Women and girls felt insecure and psychologically fearful while staying in the camps,” says the study.

Mehmil Khalid, writing for Dunyanews, cited the study, saying that the scarcity of water and the absence of other services that women rely heavily on to run a household leaves them miserably stranded with no available resources to feed themselves.

Most women in flood-affected areas that are dependent on agriculture experience huge yield loss, leading to food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition in their bodies. Lack of access to resources often creates stress and psychological problems for women, as they are confined to camps with no food or water nearby.

“Girls and pregnant women are vulnerable to psychological fears. Women and girls felt insecure and psychologically fearful while staying in the camps,” says the study.

Experts have noted that women suffer greatly from reproductive health problems during floods. Some women die or their babies die due to serious complications and the lack of medical services to provide urgent help.

Experts have noted that women suffer greatly from reproductive health problems during floods. Some women die or their babies die due to serious complications and a lack of medical services to provide urgent help. Most women are hesitant to self-help due to strict gender barriers and male dominance. They remain confined to their camps in times of urgent need and are not allowed to move freely if they need help. Many times, women face financial problems due to the death of their husbands in the camps during floods or even after they leave, as they do not find the means to obtain economic security.

"Women's interventions in women's issues are essential to achieve positive results and quick solutions to the problems they face," Dunyanews reported citing analysts.

Notably, since mid-June, 937 people have died from heavy rain and flooding in the South Asian country, according to the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The severely flood-affected southern province of Sindh requested 1 million tents, while the nearby province of Balochistan requested 100,000 tents. Since mid-June, when the monsoon began, more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) of roads, 130 bridges and 495,000 homes have been damaged, according to the latest NDMA situation report.

As districts in Pakistan continue to be hit by massive monsoon rains and unprecedented levels of flooding, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of significant public health threats faced by affected populations, including the risk of increased spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

Around 888 health facilities have been damaged in the country, of which 180 are completely damaged, leaving millions of people without access to healthcare and medical treatment, reportedly in many affected districts.

• Already half-shrinking Swiss glaciers intensify melting: Study
• Cost of Development: Almond Farmers losing land in Kashmir
• What is loss and damage, and what does it mean for South Asia?
• Climate Change: Why are Kargil Villages facing drought like situation?
• Floods: How melting glaciers fueled disaster in Pakistan?

You can connect with Ground Report on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, and Whatsapp and Subscribe to our YouTube channel. For suggestions and writeups mail us at [email protected]