New Plan to prevent millions of Deaths in Middle East Heatwave
Iraq is a Middle Eastern country. Temperatures in the country sometimes exceed 50 °C (122 °F). How do the people of the country live in this situation? How do housework, jobs, and business? Such questions can be asked.
The answer was given by Iraqi citizen Khalud Al-Amiri. He said, “People get the news of the weather in the state TV channel. When the temperature rises too much, people usually leave the house less.
Most people stay at home on such days. Authorities encourage staying at home on such days. Especially those with fragile physical conditions are asked to stay at home.”
“Not only that, animals and birds also suffer when it is too hot. We leave water under the trees for the birds or other animals — that is what,” Kholud al-Amiri said.
He continued, saying, “People’s trust in the government is very low. Because of this, the people of Iraq learned by themselves the strategy of living by adapting to nature during intense wildfires.”
Panic throughout the Middle East
According to a report in Nature Sustainability, the global temperature could rise over 1.5 percent by 2050, causing a dire situation. The Lancet published a study in April on the effects of global warming on the Middle East in the coming decades.
It is said that the death rate in the Middle East will increase due to intense heat waves. Currently, two out of every 1,000 people die from heat waves connected to illness in the Middle East. This number can increase to 123.
As many as 138,000 people may die in Iraq alone by the end of this century if the outbreak continues.
Elderly people are at higher risk
According to the Lancet study, by 2050, as many as 70 percent of people in the Middle East will start living in large cities.
Due to this, the temperature in urban areas will increase a lot. As a result, death due to heat waves will also increase. Researchers say deaths will increase more among older people.
The researchers also said that the temperature of some regions of the world may increase by 2 to 9 degrees in the current century.
Alain Mirivili, Chief Heat Officer of the United Nations, warned, “Extreme temperatures are becoming the most dangerous of climate-related disasters. But this issue is not given much importance around the world.”
“Governments should inform people about extreme fires, prepare for them, and create plans for self-defense to prevent big disasters,” he said.
What will be in the plan
But what will the governments of different countries add to this plan? Kholoud Al-Amiri said simply, “Dedicated clinics should be built to provide emergency services during severe outbreaks.”
Information delivery systems need to be improved to ensure opportunities for advanced preparation. Apart from this, a lot of trees should be planted and spread greenery.
However, the Lancet study said that despite these initiatives, the rate of temperature increase will not decrease as expected.
Eighty percent of deaths due to heat waves occur in Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, there is no option to limit the rate of global temperature increase to avoid major catastrophes.
