Anticipated scope and scale
Sindh province in Pakistan has been experiencing extreme hot and dry temperatures since 12 April. Many rural areas of Sindh are currently experiencing daily highs above 40°C, which are forecast to continue until early May. Average annual temperatures are in the mid-thirties at this time and increase to reach their peak in May and June, when urban areas including Karachi will be severely affected by the heatwave.
Heatwaves in the past have caused considerable health impacts including dehydration, sunburn, and heatstroke. Impacts on WASH lead to additional health risks such as waterborne diseases. Increased power needs might lead to blackouts, affecting hospitals, transport, and communication.
Many groups are especially vulnerable when there is a heatwave. Along with many low income people who continue to labour in the heat, children, old people, homeless, and those already sick have been identified as particularly vulnerable to the effects of the heatwave.
Preparedness and response
Preparedness and response: Heatstroke centres have been set up and access to affected populations is open to humanitarian agencies operating in Sindh. However, the response of the agencies present is unlikely to reach all affected populations.
Availability of drinking water and increased medical infrastructure is the most important part of the response. Also crucial to response is the inclusion of an information campaign about the increased need to drink fluids and the avoidance of harmful behaviour (e.g. not drinking from late May because of Ramadan fasting). It is unclear whether this response has happened or not.
Priorities for humanitarian intervention
WASH: conditions are already poor, with contaminated water common. Heatwaves lead to increased use of unprotected water sources due to increased demand and potentially diminished supply. Resulting increases in prices disproportionately affect low income residents.
Support for advocacy of continuous and uninterrupted water supplies, including reinstating full water supply to Karachi from the government owned Hub Dam after supply was cut in early April.Health: Dehydration, sunburn, and heatstroke linked to extreme heat, as well as health problems arising from poor WASH conditions require a mobile response to reach all affected people.
NFIs: Electricity needs will increase, leading to a higher risk of blackouts.