Climate change in District Kech

  

Climate change has brought serious challenges to District Kech in Balochistan. The area experiences extremely high temperatures, especially in the summer, with places like Turbat often recording some of the hottest temperatures in the country. These heatwaves create health risks, especially for the elderly, children, and people working outdoors. Rainfall has also decreased sharply, causing drought-like conditions. As a result, rivers, ponds, and underground water sources are drying up, making it difficult for people to access clean water for drinking and farming.

In recent years, the district has also faced sudden and intense monsoon rains that lead to flash floods. These floods damage homes, roads, bridges, and crops, leaving many families displaced and without proper shelter or food. In 2022, major floods affected thousands of people in the region, damaging property and harming local agriculture. Farmers lost their crops and livestock, increasing poverty and food shortages.

Water storage and management systems like the Mirani Dam exist, but they have not been able to fully protect the region from flooding or drought. Emergency response is also limited, and many remote communities do not receive timely help during disasters. The combined effects of heat, water shortage, and poor infrastructure are making life harder for the people of Kech, and long-term solutions are needed to protect the environment and support the local population.

Zohra Zahoor

Kech