Chitral glacial flooding: Climate change is affecting the people of Pakistan

Climate change is a global phenomenon and the action to it needs to be treated as such. Recent glacial flooding in the Chitral district of Pakistan has caused widespread damage and displacement. The floods, which were triggered by a combination of rising temperatures and heavy rains, have destroyed homes, bridges, and roads. Locals are displaced and blockaded because they cannot enter the town centre to get to work.

The full extent of the damage of this glacial flooding is still unknown as the government investigates whilst deploying emergency rescue teams. Muslim Aid responded swiftly to the flooding and provided over 20 food packs in DC Lower Chitral and is currently carrying out a needs assessment by analysing the extent of the damage and by speaking to affected locals to curate the best possible plan for them.

The floods in Chitral are a reminder of the dangers posed by climate change. As temperatures rise, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. This is leading to an increase in GLOFs, which can be devastating for communities living in the mountains.

“During past few years, the intense weather patterns have added to the existential challenges of the communities living in Chitral as the district lacks resilient infrastructure and adequate climate adaptability mechanism resulting in challenges for the communities”, says Muhammad Mursaleen Mughal, Muslim Aid Pakistan’s Media and Communication Coordinator.

The floods in Chitral have had a significant impact on the local population. In addition to the damage to property and infrastructure, the floods have also caused widespread displacement. Since 2015, thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and seek shelter in temporary camps because of glacial flooding. Locals and environmental experts alike attribute the disasters to the effects of climate change, which is disproportionately affecting the global south.

“In July 2015, a devastating combination of strong monsoon rains and a GLOF caused extensive damage to agriculture and livestock in Mastuj, Lotkoh, Laspur, and Kalash Valley in Chitral. In September 2020, an unprecedented flood struck Upper and Lower districts of Chitral washing away hundreds of houses, crops and livestock. The floods in 2022 also had severe consequences, affecting communities, roads, bridges, and crops. Now, in 2023, the district is once again grappling with another round of flash floods, necessitating urgent humanitarian interventions to assist the vulnerable communities.”, Muhammad added.

The floods have also had a devastating impact on the local economy. The destruction of crops and livestock has caused widespread food insecurity. The loss of tourism revenue has also hit the local economy hard.

The long-term impacts of the floods are still unknown, but after nearly 10 years, it's clear that emergency responses to regular disasters isn't enough. As we work to build resilience in communities that have been affected by climate change, we need to continue to ask the question of what can be done in our daily lives to ensure the safety of others in other parts of the globe.