WHO: Global warming puts Manila at high risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced the delta megacities in Asia like Manila and Calcutta in India are at high risk of coastal flooding due to the ill-effects of global warming.

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As the sea levels are expected to rise because of increasing temperatures, people living in low-lying areas are in big trouble since flooding is very much capable of washing away their farms and shanty houses.

Aside from being homeless and suffering from the threats of flooding, the WHO has also warned of the possibility that millions of people may be sick and infected by various diseases caused by contamination of water and other risks. As a result, the problems on poverty and hunger in Asia will again experience a big blow as the arable farms in the region will soon be toppled down by heavy rainfall, high temperature, high pressure of river flows and pest infestation.

Since many countries have not yet adopted concrete plans in attacking the damages brought by climate change, the WHO estimated that deaths will continue to soar from an annual 150,000 to a higher number of casualties as problems on malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition, other accidents and injuries from flooding are not given solutions in a wider scale.

The Asian countries' health systems and disaster preparedness strategies must be reviewed to mitigate the effects of global warming. It is better to think of preventing occurrences that may heighten the number of victims and accidents than simply treating the patients and looking for evacuation camps to give shelter to the homeless. We should act now before it is too late. Let us spare the lives of the poor families and give assistance to those in need.