In late February, a flash flood hit Gwadar, a port city on Pakistan’s southwestern coast in Balochistan province. The 183 millimeters (7.2 inches) of rain that fell in 30 hours was double what the city typically gets in a year, and it exacted a heavy toll. At least five people died, and more than 800 had to leave their homes because of stagnant sewage water. The storm damaged thousands of homes and shops, inundated farmlands and killed hundreds of livestock. Residents shared videos online showing flooded streets and homes, and they criticized the lack of government response. Protests broke out as hundreds of people took to the streets, chanting, “Take water out of our houses,” “Stop helping the influential” and “We want our rights.” In already fragile areas like Gwadar, extreme weather can fuel conflict and be a threat multiplier, according to recent research published in the journal Alternatives: Global, Local, Political. “The grievances of the Baloch people against the state of Pakistan stem from inequality, human rights violations, lack of necessities and noninclusive governance,” Muhammad Makki, an assistant professor at the Centre for International Peace and Security at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad and lead author of the study, told Mongabay by phone. “Climate calamities like floods and droughts worsen these issues and further destabilize development.” Over the past six years, Gwadar has been beset by large protests and sit-ins, most reportedly linked to climate issues or government failures. In 2019, thousands of people, including…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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