In Jacobabad, one of the hottest cities in Pakistan, the rise in temperatures and the downward water supply pushes the community to a crisis.
The Jacobabad lying by the sun often exceeds 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) during intense heat waves, leading to critical health problems such as dehydration and heat stroke.
The Jacobabad municipal water system, partly funded by a subsidy of $ 66 million in USAID in 2012, provides essential water essential to around 350,000 residents. The project pumps 1.5 million gallons of water purified daily from a canal located 22 kilometers (14 miles), helping to relieve the pressure of the severe water shortage.
However, freezing on American foreign aid, which includes 1.5 million dollars designated for the continuing operation of the project, now threatens the whole infrastructure, leaving the community vulnerable.
Hands, the Pakistani non -profit organization supervising the project, warned that without this critical funding, the water system could stop in a few months. “Since everything is suspended, we have to withdraw our staff and the project will probably cease,” said Hands CEO Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed. The frost has left the local government in charge, but with little capacity or expertise to manage such a complex system.
Jacobabad’s vulnerability to climate change is becoming more and more serious. Recent weather reports show that precipitation in the Sindh province is down 52% and that the city faces moderate drought in the coming months.
For residents like Tufail Ahmed, access to clean water is not only important; It is essential for survival. “If the water supply is cut, survival will be difficult,” said Ahmed. “Water is the most essential thing for life.”
Gel on American aid occurs at a time when Jacobabad, like a large part of Pakistan, is increasingly affected by climate change. Pakistan, which contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the nations most affected by the increase in temperatures and extreme weather events. Heat waves becoming more frequent and intense, Jacobabad’s dependence on water supply systems funded by international aid has never been so critical.
Before the city’s municipal system, many residents had to count on private oil tankers at the donkey, who charge up to 10 times more than the local water service. These oil tankers often provide contaminated water by harmful substances such as arsenic. As Noor, 18 -year -old student, reminds us, “before, our women had to walk for hours to collect water. Now we have a reliable supply. »»
However, with the potential end of imminent water supply, Abdul Ghani, a local activist, warned that cutting the project’s financing would have disastrous consequences. “If the food is cut, it will seriously affect the public. We cannot afford alternatives, “he said.
This crisis highlights the broader impacts of American foreign policy decisions on global efforts of climate adaptation. Help freezing highlights the fragility of global partnerships, in particular for front -line countries of climate change, such as Pakistan. Without continuous support, Jacobabad communities and similar cities may be left to face the devastating effects of climate change without the resources necessary to deal with.
“This water supply cannot be stopped,” said Sadruddin Lashari, a 55 -year -old local resident. “Without that, we will have trouble surviving heat.”
While Jacobabad is fighting to maintain his water supply, the urgent need for continuous international support is clear. The situation serves as a brutal reminder that climate change requires global cooperation, and foreign aid is essential to help vulnerable communities like Jacobabad adapt and survive.
