LAHORE: Climate change has emerged as a major threat to the future of children, with the United Nations warning that around 34 million children in Pakistan are exposed to increasing risks from extreme heat, heatwaves and flash floods.
According to the latest UN report, 34 million children live in areas where extreme temperatures, drought and flash floods pose persistent threats to their health and safety. The report said children are among the first and most vulnerable groups to be affected by the growing impacts of climate change.
Child health specialist Dr Abdul Jabbar Bhutto described the situation as alarming, saying nearly 35 million children are at risk. He warned that climate-related hazards not only threaten children’s lives but could also have long-term consequences for their health and well-being.
Experts said children living near rivers, streams and glaciers in northern regions face an increasing risk of flash floods, while those residing in plains and desert areas are becoming more vulnerable to extreme heat and prolonged heatwaves.
Health officials urged parents to remain vigilant in the coming weeks by protecting children from extreme temperatures, ensuring adequate hydration and following precautionary measures to reduce heat-related illnesses.
Deputy Director at the Ministry of Health, Dr Rabia Javed, said intense cloudbursts and accelerated glacier melting caused by rising temperatures could trigger sudden flash floods, placing children and their families living in vulnerable areas at significant risk.
UNICEF also warned that climate-related threats could affect nearly 296 million children across the region, including millions in Pakistan, India and Nigeria.
