OCHA helps parts of Asia tackle the impact of climate change-induced rains
OCHA is stepping up its support to help communities across south and south-east Asia devasted by catastrophic rains linked to climate change.
Since 17 November, unprecedented rainfall and unusual cyclone events in Asia have upended the lives of more than 10 million people. A devastating late flooding season affected at least 30 million people and killed thousands.
Pakistan (6.9 million affected), Thailand (4 million), Indonesia (3.2 million), Viet Nam (3.1 million), Philippines (2.4 million affected by Tropical Cyclone Fung Wong), Sri Lanka (2.2 million), Malaysia (37,000) are among the hardest hit this year, enduring record-breaking rainfall, storm surges and widespread inundation.
Areas seldom affected by extreme weather events are affected, meaning countries that rarely appeal for international assistance turned to the UN for humanitarian aid and support.
OCHA’s Climate Science Lead, Zinta Zommers, said: “Analysis by World Weather Attribution has found that climate change is increasing the intensity of rainfall in the region. Action is needed by reducing emissions, but equally we must reduce communities’ vulnerability and exposure to extreme weather events, and support early warning systems and sustainable land management.
“There is no humanitarian solution to the climate crisis, but through the OCHA-managed UN Global Emergency Fund [CERF] we are supporting early action to build people’s resilience in the absence of long-term adaptation funding and resources.”
Allocations from CERF funded early action to support people in the affected countries.
OCHA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific used satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence-supported analysis to rapidly determine the scope and scale of the overlapping emergencies. It also helped coordinate and monitor response delivery.
Pakistan
The newly launched Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Fund provided $1.6 million to national non-governmental organizations to support a localized response to record-breaking floods, which affected more than 6.9 million people. This complements CERF’s allocation of more than $5 million and the work of the OCHA Country Office.
Thailand
Widespread flooding affected more than 4 million people, and the major city of Hat Yai was devastated. OCHA provided satellite and mapping services to the Government and is collaborating with the UN country team to support emergency grant applications from the Asian Development Bank.
Indonesia
When a rare tropical cyclone affected 3.2 million people, the Government activated coordination groups under various thematic sectors, such as water and food for emergency operations, supported by UN agencies. OCHA supported the national coordination platform in each province.
Philippines
Ahead of Tropical Cyclone Fung-Wong’s landfall, CERF released US$6 million to partners to help more than 400,000 people prepare for the worst impact.
Viet Nam
More than a dozen typhoons and extreme rainfall events affected 2.7 million people across Viet Nam’s 15 provinces. CERF released $2.6 million to bolster the Joint Response Plan, which it supports as impacts spread across the country and coping capacities become exhausted.
Sri Lanka
Cyclone Ditwah’s torrential rainfall triggered the worst flooding in decades across the country. OCHA deployed its United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system to support the Government’s response, and CERF allocated $4.5 million. The Sri Lanka response plan aims to reach 658,000 vulnerable people. To strengthen the response, OCHA leveraged partnerships and worked with the private sector through the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka, the local member network of the Connecting Business initiative.
You can contribute to support some of the affected communities here.