“Since the beginning of the summer, Southeast Asia, like many parts of the world, has been hit with unprecedentedly severe weather. Record-breaking monsoon rains along with melting glaciers in the region’s northern mountains (a direct result of climate change) has resulted in extreme flooding for the country of Pakistan, in particular. To be specific: One-third of the country is now underwater and, according to the United Nations, over 6.4 million people are currently displaced and in need of immediate assistance.
While the severe weather has been going on since June, flash flooding at the end of August set the emergency into a tailspin. As of this week, at least 1,400 people have died. The deluge has also destroyed important infrastructure including homes, businesses, bridges, roads, train tracks, crops, and livestock. The cumulative damage done to the country has recently been estimated at about $30 billion, while the tragic human cost is inestimable and continues to climb every day.
While climate-related disasters can make so many of us feel stripped of control, there are ways to help repair and mitigate the devastation. Read on to learn about the human rights organizations accepting donations to bring much-needed food, clean water, basic necessities, and other crucial forms of assistance to the victims of this catastrophe.