De/Cypher Data Dive 📈
In 2022, disasters caused 32.6 million internal displacements in Asia-Pacific (70% globally), which is 41% higher than the previous 10-year average. The majority of these displacements were due to storms and floods.
World Migration Report 2024: Summary
Summarized By Aurko Chakrabarti, Applied Geopolitical Researcher
The World Migration Report 2024 examines global transformations over the last two years and their effects on migration and displacement. It focuses on conflicts like the invasion of Ukraine and ongoing crises in various regions, as well as environmental concerns like climate change. The report sees migration as part of the solution in a changing world, but it also emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to address carbon emissions, climate change, and technological advancements. It also looks at the impact of AI on migration systems and the growing digital divide. The report emphasizes the importance of taking historical and contemporary factors into account when understanding migration in broader societal contexts.
Asia View
Climate Risk: Pakistan
Written by ASIA
The “Climate Risk Country Profile: Pakistan” is a comprehensive document that synthesizes the most relevant data and information on climate change, disaster risk reduction, and adaptation actions and policies at the country level. This profile is part of a series developed jointly by the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed at integrating climate resilience in development planning and policy making.
Key Climate Risks and Projections
Pakistan is experiencing significant climate changes, with projections indicating considerable warming and alterations in precipitation patterns. The country faces warming rates above the global average, with potential temperature rises between 1.3°C and 4.9°C by the 2090s over the 1986-2005 baseline. These changes are expected to amplify pressures on human health, livelihoods, and ecosystems. The annual maximum and minimum temperatures are projected to increase more than the average temperature rise. The rainfall and runoff regimes in Pakistan are highly uncertain, but there is a likelihood of increased drought conditions. Additionally, the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, such as floods and heatwaves, are expected to rise, posing increased risks, especially to vulnerable groups. Projections suggest that by 2035-2044, around 5 million more people could be exposed to extreme river floods, and by 2070-2100, approximately 1 million more could be annually exposed to coastal flooding.
Impacts on Agriculture and Economy
Climate change is projected to negatively impact key agricultural outputs in Pakistan. Essential food and cash crops like cotton, wheat, sugarcane, maize, and rice are expected to see yield declines due to temperature increases and water availability changes. This will likely strain the agricultural sector, which is a significant part of Pakistan’s economy and employs a large portion of the workforce.
Urban and Energy Sectors
Urban areas and energy systems in Pakistan are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Increased temperatures and heatwaves are likely to exacerbate the urban heat island effect, reduce labor productivity, and increase energy demand for cooling. The energy sector, crucial for economic activities, faces risks from higher temperatures that can decrease the efficiency of power generation and transmission systems.
Social Implications and Health
The health impacts due to climate change are a major concern, with increased risks of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Vulnerable populations, including the poor and minority groups, are at higher risk due to their limited capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Additionally, climate change is expected to exacerbate issues of undernourishment and food security in Pakistan.
Af-Pak De/Cypher
13 May, 2024
Melting Glaciers in Pakistan Threatens Millions
Written By Farheen, Policy and Trust Analyst
Due to climate change, Pakistan’s glaciers in the Himalayan, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges are melting rapidly as the country’s temperatures have risen by 1.68°C since 1901, exceeding the global average of 1.1°C. This mass melting of over 7,000 vital glaciers poses significant challenges, as it threatens the freshwater supply that is essential for the nation’s agriculture and hydroelectric power generation. The Baltoro Glacier’s notable shrinkage, at a rate of 0.9% annually between 2003 and 2017, exemplifies the crisis – escalating water levels from the meltwater lead to floods, risking lives and destroying infrastructure. Research from Lahore College for Women University and the World Wildlife Fund points to human-driven climate change, from activities like intensive agriculture and fossil fuel combustion, as a key driver of accelerated glacier melt. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) calls this region the “water tower of Asia,” critical for its central role in water provision, but now facing potential water shortages as seen in Skardu in 2023 due to dwindling glacial runoff that feeds the Satpara Dam.
To mitigate these risks, Pakistan is working with the United Nations Development Programme on a forward-looking $37 million initiative to develop early warning systems and anti-flooding infrastructure. This, in conjunction with sustainable farming in villages like Khari Nangsoq, represents a local response. However, added to these efforts is the urgent need for global action, as plastic pollution accelerates the melting process. According to a 2023 projection by ICIMOD, Himalayan glaciers are melting at a faster rate than ever before. If global warming persists, they could lose up to 80% of their volume by the end of this century. The melting of the Siachen Glacier emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation in addressing such environmental challenges.
Top Stories📜 this week
Taliban tightens rules for EU and UN security contractors
With lucrative security contracts for the European Union and United Nations delegations in Afghanistan back up for grabs, potential contractors must comply with the Taliban’s new rules, the companies operating in Afghanistan will need the signature of Interior Minister Haqqani. Read more: Intelligence Online
Death toll from Afghanistan floods rises to 315, Taliban ministry says
Flash floods in Afghanistan, confirmed by a Taliban official, have resulted in hundreds of deaths and a significant number of injuries. The northern region of Afghanistan was the most affected by the floods. In neighboring Takhar province, at least 20 people were reported dead due to the floods. Read more: Ground News
Landmine blast kills 1, injures 5 in Afghanistan
A child was killed, and five others were injured as a landmine left over from past wars went off in south Afghanistan’s Zabul province, a local official said on Saturday. The incident occurred in Shahr-e-Safa district on Friday evening when the children found a metallic object and played with it, which exploded while killing one on the spot and severely injuring five others, said Zabihullah Jawhar, the provincial police spokesman, reports Xinhua news agency. The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital, Jawhar added. Afghanistan is reportedly one of the most landmine-contaminated countries in the world, with dozens of people, mostly children, being killed and maimed every month. Read more: Xinhua
Hazara community in Afghanistan faces rising violence under Taliban rule
In the wake of the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, the Hazara community finds itself once again in the crosshairs of extremism, as highlighted by a recent report from Human Rights Watch. The report sheds light on the dire situation faced by the Hazara minority, who have been subjected to relentless persecution and violence by both the Taliban and the Islamic State of Khorasan. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the Hazara community has been enduring a barrage of targeted attacks, with incidents ranging from suicide bombings to armed assaults on mosques and public transportation. Read more: Saama
Militants bomb a girls school in northwestern Pakistan, once a Taliban stronghold. No one was harmed
Militants detonated a bomb at a girls school in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s volatile northwest, badly damaging the structure, police said Thursday. No one was harmed in the overnight attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack late Wednesday that targeted the only girls school in Shawa, a town in the North Waziristan district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, local police chief Amjad Wazir said. Read more: AP News
Pakistan’s military says March attack that killed Chinese engineers was planned in Afghanistan
The Pakistani military revealed on Tuesday that the suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers and a driver from Pakistan in March was planned in neighboring Afghanistan. The bomber was an Afghan national. At a news conference, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said four men behind the March 26 attack in Bisham, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, had been arrested. Read more: AP News
IMF Mission To Meet Pakistani Authorities Next Week
An IMF mission will meet the authorities of cash-strapped Pakistan next week to hold discussions about laying the foundation for “better governance” and “stronger economic growth,”. Last month, Pakistan completed a short-term USD 3 billion programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which bailed the country out of any default. The next phase of engagement will be discussed with authorities by a mission team headed by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s mission chief to Pakistan, according to Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF’s resident representative for Pakistan. Read more: Free Press Journal
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to convene high-level meeting as dissent grows in PoJK
Amid violent clashes between the police and protestors in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will convene a high-level meeting today to discuss the ongoing situation. At least one police officer was killed and 90 others were wounded after violent clashes erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir during on going protests. Read more: ANI News
Pakistan urges UN-led cyber capacity building
Pakistan has underscored the need for a permanent cyber capacity building mechanism under the UN, particularly in bridging the gap between developing and developed countries, in an effort to promote trust and cooperation among states. Cyber security capacity building is aimed at equipping individuals and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to protect themselves and their digital assets. “International cooperation in the area of capacity building on an equal footing is a key measure for a safe, secure, stable, and peaceful ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) environment,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the Global Roundtable on ICT Security Capacity Building. Read more: Express Tribune
Two TTP ‘militants’ killed in KP operation
Police on Sunday claimed to have killed two militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while three others were injured in a joint operation carried out by police and security forces in the Wanda Zareefwal and Shaikh Badin areas. District Police Officer (DPO) Taimur Khan said security personnel were dispatched to the mountainous belt bordering Dera Ismail Khan district after receiving information about the presence of the militants there. Read more: Dawn
Bangladesh De/Cypher
13 May, 2024
Top Stories📜 this week
Middle East situation may affect Bangladesh’s economy: PM
On May 8, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed Parliament, highlighting concerns about the potential impact of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East on Bangladesh’s economy. She emphasized the need for preparedness, especially considering the possibility of prolonged conflict, and directed relevant ministries to monitor the situation closely. The disruption of commodity supply chains and increased transportation costs for exports were among the economic challenges discussed. PM Hasina also underscored Bangladesh’s stance against conflict and commitment to maintaining stability and controlling inflation. Read more: Somoy News
PM invites Italian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Italian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh, emphasizing the country’s strategic position in local and regional markets. She emphasized Bangladesh’s special economic zones and its importance as a central market in South and Southeast Asia. Seeking Italian assistance, she discussed the continuation of Bangladesh’s GSP as well as export facilities to European countries. The Italian ambassador expressed interest in technology transfer, defense cooperation, and trade diversification, as well as support for the dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Read more: Business Insider BD
UK state minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan meets Hasan Mahmud
On May 8, 2024, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK’s state minister for Indo-Pacific, met with Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud, to discuss historic ties, traffic improvements in Dhaka, and infrastructure project completion. They also congratulated Bangladesh on its upcoming graduation from LDC status and talked about trade, renewable energy goals, the Rohingya crisis, and areas of cooperation. Read more: Prothom Alo
Biden picks David Meale as next US Ambassador to Bangladesh
David Meale, a former deputy chief of mission in Dhaka, has been nominated by President Biden as the next US Ambassador to Bangladesh, succeeding Ambassador Peter Haas. Meale, currently serving as deputy chief of mission in Beijing, awaits confirmation by the Senate. With extensive experience in foreign service and trade policy, Meale’s background includes roles in various countries and corporate finance. He holds degrees from prestigious institutions and is fluent in several languages. Read more: BD News 24
Donald Lu likely to visit Dhaka this month
Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, is scheduled to visit Dhaka in the middle of the month to strengthen the US-Bangladesh relationship and outline its future framework. This is the highest-level US official visit since the January 7 national election, which the US has criticized as not free and fair. During his visit, Lu is expected to meet with key figures such as Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, and the Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman F Rahman, as well as civil society and labor leaders. Read more: The Daily Star
Sheikh Hasina urges IOM to raise more funds for Rohingyas
On May 7, 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to raise additional funds to assist Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh during a meeting with IOM Director General Amy Pope at Ganabhaban in Dhaka. Hasina emphasized the importance of finding new partners to supplement the declining funds for Rohingya relief. She also discussed the relocation of Rohingya to Bhashanchar, emphasizing the importance of proper training and skill development for migrants. She also emphasized Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change and its efforts to combat climate-induced migration by providing housing and other assistance to climate refugees. Read more: The Daily Observer
US provides $30.5m additional assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
The US, through various agencies, is allocating $30.5 million in additional aid for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bhasan Char, and surrounding areas, focusing on healthcare, nutrition, water, shelter, and self-reliance initiatives. Ambassador Jeffrey Prescott announced the funding during a visit to Bangladesh, reaffirming the commitment to support Rohingya refugees and affected communities. The US remains the largest donor for Rohingya crisis assistance, with total funding nearing $2.4 billion since August 2017, of which over $1.9 billion has been allocated for Bangladesh. Read more: The Daily Star
IMF loan’s third instalment doubled, June reserves target sharply lowered
The IMF has agreed to increase Bangladesh’s third tranche loan to approximately $1,152 million while lowering the June reserve target. This follows a staff agreement and reflects Bangladesh’s urgent need for foreign currency. Despite reduced reserve targets, the IMF emphasizes long-term revenue generation and resilience to climate change. Prior to departing, the IMF delegation met with government officials and stakeholders. The increased loan amount reflects the IMF’s confidence in Bangladesh’s economic reforms and ability to meet the conditions. This move aims to meet the country’s urgent need for foreign exchange in the midst of global economic challenges. Read more: The Business Standard
India keen to finance Bangladesh’s Teesta project
India has shown interest in funding Bangladesh’s Teesta project, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud after a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The project will need to align with Bangladesh’s requirements. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India is anticipated after the conclusion of India’s elections, potentially in early July. Discussions also covered border killings and enhancing people-to-people connectivity, including cooperation on importing hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan through India. Read more: The Business Post
Voter turnout 36.1% in 1st phase upazila polls: EC Alamgir
According to Election Commissioner Md Alamgir, voter turnout for the first phase of the sixth upazila parishad polls was 36.1%. Kushtia Sadar had the lowest turnout at 17%, while Khetlal upazila in Joypurhat had the highest at 73.1%. Despite sporadic violence, elections were held peacefully in 139 upazilas. According to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, between 30% and 40% of votes were cast during the polls. Read more: Daily Sun
Asia Headlines Quick Recap 🌏
Russia’s Putin Replaces Defense Minister in Security Shake-Up
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has removed Sergei Shoigu from his longtime position as defence minister. Putin will replace Shoigu with ex-vice PM Andrei Belousov, an economist who can assert control over military spending. The appointment was calibrated to not suggest seismic changes amid the protracted war in Ukraine. Read more: WSJ
Top Philippine security official demands Chinese diplomats’ expulsion as territorial row escalates
A Philippine security official has demanded that Chinese diplomats be expelled for allegedly leaking a phone conversation about the South China Sea dispute. This follows hostilities between Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships. Read more: CNA
Iraq government officially requests end of UN mission in Baghdad
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has formally requested that the United Nations end the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), citing positive developments achieved by Iraqi governments with UN and other agency assistance. Read more: Middle East Monitor
Thailand to tighten border control amid Myanmar conflict: PM Srettha
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha announced plans to tighten border control amid the conflict in Myanmar, following regional army commanders’ proposals to close points and checkpoints. He emphasized the country’s ability to host up to 5,000 refugees. Read more: The Star
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