Health Impacts of Flooding and Risk Management

Abstract

The devastating effects of climate change are undeniable and have grown more alarming over the past ten years. Most recently, eight weeks of heavy rain and flash flooding in Pakistan caused a disaster that affected over 33 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about serious public health hazards confronting the affected communities, including the possibility of further spreading water- and vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. Pakistan's districts are still negatively impacted by heavy monsoon rains and unprecedented levels of flooding. This chapter aims to highlight the policies that local governments should adopt to deal with health issues raised by the flood. Furthermore, this chapter also recommends policies related to logistics and transportation which overcome health issues.