Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Climate and health experts from throughout South Asia gathered at a UN sponsored forum in a bid to improve the management of health risks from heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and more intense as a result of climate change.
In 2015 many countries in South Asia suffered the traumatic and devastating effects of heatwaves, which took thousands of lives and severely stressed health systems. Parts of India are again gripped by intense heat, compounded by severe water stress due to two consecutive years of deficient monsoon (2014 and 2015). The India Meteorological Department has warned of a “high probability of moderate and severe heatwave conditions” during April to June.