LAHORE: A study on climate change’s impacts on the marginalised communities finds that climate events worsen the existing vulnerabilities of the families already living on the margins as they lose their homes and livelihoods, while the rising costs of living make even basic necessities unaffordable for them.

The study conducted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) as part of the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration (FCM), shows that nearly 90 per cent of the surveyed households reported moderate to severe food insecurity in regions like Sindh, Balochistan, and south Punjab.

Access to clean water and sanitation was also severely limited, with almost 50pc of respondents classified as water insecure and 70pc relying on unimproved sanitation facilities, it reveals.

Women and girls of the displaced families have disproportionately borne the brunt of these challenges because higher rates of food and water insecurity, as well as an increased prevalence of waterborne illnesses, says the study.

Sharing the findings, IWMI Director of Water, Food and Ecosystems Dr Mohsin Hafeez said that a lack of reliable data on climate migration has left the marginalised communities largely ignored in national policies, underscoring the significance of this research for evidence-based decision-making.

He emphasised the urgency of addressing these crises, saying that climate change is not just an environmental challenge, it is a socio-economic crisis affecting livelihoods, food security, and human well-being.

Incorporating climate-migration dynamics into educational curricula to raise awareness and engage youth in community-level data collection is the solution to the issue, he added.

Former DG of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority Faisal Fareed says the study has provided food for thought, adding that the findings can help formulate into the district disaster management plans and national strategies.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024