Trump’s aid cut threatens the water scheme in swelling jacobabad

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In Jacobabad, one of Pakistan’s hottest cities is pushing rising temperatures and diminishing water supplies society against a crisis.

Sunscorched Jacobabad often exceeds 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) under intense heat waves, leading to critical health problems such as dehydration and heat current.

Jacobabad’s municipal water system, partly funded by a USAID grant of $ 66 million in 2012, provides an important clean water to about 350,000 inhabitants. The project pumps 1.5 million gallons of cleaned water daily from a channel located 22 kilometers away, which helps relieve the pressure of severe water button.

However, the freezer threatens the US foreign aid, which includes $ 1.5 million designated for the project’s continued operation, now the entire infrastructure, leaving the community vulnerable.

Hands, the Pakistani non-profit, which oversees the project, warned that without this critical funding, the water system could close within months. “Since everything is just suspended, we have to withdraw our staff and the project is likely to cease to work,” said Hand’s CEO Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed. Freeze has left the local government that is responsible, but with a little capacity or expertise to control such an intricate system.

Jacobabad’s vulnerability to climate change is becoming more serious. The latest weather reports show that precipitation in Sindh province is down by 52%and the city is facing a moderate drought in the coming months.

For residents like Tufail Ahmed, access to clean water is not only important; It is important for survival. “If the water supply is cut off, survival will be challenging,” Ahmed said. “Water is the most essential thing for life.”

The freezer of American help is coming at a time when Jacobabad, like much of Pakistan, is increasingly affected by climate change. Pakistan, which contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the nations most affected by rising temperatures and extreme weather events. As heat waves become more frequent and intense, Jacobabad’s dependence on water supply systems has been funded by international assistance has never been more critical.

Before the city’s municipal system, many residents had to rely on private donkey -drawn tankers, which charge up to 10 times more than the local water service. These tankers often supply water that is contaminated with harmful substances such as arsenic. As an 18-year-old student Noor Ahmed remembers: “Before, our women had to go for hours to collect water. Now we have a reliable supply. “

With the potential end of the water supply threatening, Abdul Ghani, a local activist, warned that cutting off the project’s financing would have serious consequences. “If the supply is cut off, it will affect the public seriously. We can’t afford alternatives, ”he said.

This crisis highlights the broader effects of US foreign policy decisions on global climate adaptation efforts. Aid Freeze emphasizes the fragility of global partnerships, especially for countries on the front lines of climate change, such as Pakistan. Without continued support, communities in Jacobabad and similar cities can be left to meet the devastating effects of climate change without the necessary resources to cope.

“This water supply cannot be stopped,” said Sadruddin Lashari, a 55-year-old local resident. “Without that, we will fight to survive the heat.”

As Jacobabad is struggling to maintain his water supply, the urgent need for continued international support is clear. The situation serves as a sharp reminder that climate change requires global cooperation, and foreign aid is critical for helping vulnerable communities such as Jacobabad adapt and survive.

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