By Myrah Nerine Butt
[...]
Some key trends indicate that we have serious disasters in the making. The frequency of natural hazards is increasing, with the global south bearing the brunt of climate change. Pakistan has witnessed rising temperatures and increased frequency of urban flooding. The current onset of rains in our major cities should not have taken anyone by surprise, yet over a dozen people died during the recent monsoon rains in Karachi. The frequency of similar events is likely to increase in coming years, and we need to be ready to face this challenge.
[...]
Vulnerable groups live in unsafe houses and do not have the reserves to deal with shocks and stressors. They further lack the voice to hold the state accountable. Currently, increasing pressures such as inflation and unemployment further restrict the capacity of households to respond to disasters.
[...]
Cities need to adopt multiple strategies to understand their vulnerabilities and prepare for climate impacts. We need resilience planning for cities. Urban resilience is defined as “the capacity of urban systems, communities, individuals, organisations and businesses to recover, maintain their function and thrive in the aftermath of a shock or a stress, regardless of its impact, frequency or magnitude”. A resilient society can withstand shocks and rebuild itself when necessary. Urban resilience planning enables this search for systemic rather than piecemeal solutions.
To give a few examples, resilience planning would involve designing appropriate infrastructure including water, transportation and telecommunications, educational facilities, hospitals and other health facilities, to ensure that they remain safe, effective and operational during disasters. It would also entail building better from the start to withstand hazards through proper design and construction. It would also involve the state revising and enforcing strict housing codes and standards.
[...]