News

Climate disasters are growing. So are cuts to programs that prepare for them

morning-times.com · last updated

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Sitting on the floor of a makeshift shelter for survivors of Nepal’s deadly recent floods, Tenzin Dolma Ghale said she had nothing left but the clothes she was wearing. Her entire village and members of her family were washed away by the surge of water and debris that killed over 1,450 people and left more than 6,000 missing.

After speaking, she waved a hand and looked at the ground. “It’s all finished,” she said.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmv92=6 :D 2>@?8 >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 =:G:?8 H:E9 E96 5625=J 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^4=:>2E6\492?86Qm4=:>2E6\C6=2E65k^2m 5:D2DE6CD] pD DF49 5:D2DE6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4=:>2E6\492?86\?6A2=\7=@@5D\9:>2=2J2D\5:D2DE6CD\g6ahh4gfh5`6_4h2b_ae3g5he5g52d5cQm:?E6?D:7Jk^2m[ :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4=:>2E6 252AE2E:@? 2?5 5:D2DE6C AC6A2C65?6DD 2:5 AC@8C2>D 92G6 366? D=2D965[ =62G:?8 4@F?EC:6D 724:?8 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? 2G@:523=6 52>286 2?5 5H:?5=:?8 C64@G6CJ 7F?5D]k^Am

kAm“%96 C62=:EJ :D E92E H6 ?665 EC:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 6G6CJ J62C[ 3FE 56G6=@A65 4@F?EC:6D 92G6 ?@E >6E E96:C @3=:82E:@?[” D2:5 w2C;66E $:?89[ 7@F?5:?8 5:C64E@C @7 }6H s6=9:\32D65 $2E2E $2>A252 r=:>2E6 u@F?52E:@?]k^Am

k9amp:5 4FED H62<6? 5:D2DE6C >@?:E@C:?8 :? E96 w:>2=2J2Dk^9am

kAm%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>J2?>2C\FD2:5\E92:=2?5\ECF>A\CF3:@\2:5\f7eh`h2`geb4662a557ef_g6cf33gg7_Qm23CFAE 4FED E@ &]$] 7@C6:8? 2:5k^2m :? a_ad 6=:>:?2E65 @C D92CA=J 4FCE2:=65 AC@8C2>D D6CG:?8 >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 H@C=5H:56[ H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^FD2:5\C@9:?8J2\6IA=@:E2E:@?\ECF>A\3F586E\4FED\635f2_d6a7d_f3g`_`hc6f`26e3b4d`dQm56G2DE2E:?8 4@?D6BF6?46Dk^2m 7@C >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D] #65F4E:@?D 3J @E96C >2;@C 5@?@C 4@F?EC:6D 566A6?65 E96 7F?5:?8 4C:D:D]k^Am

kAmp>@?8 E96 AC@8C2>D D9FE H2D $t#’x#\w:?5F zFD9 w:>2=2J2[ 2 ;@:?E :?:E:2E:G6 @7 E96 &]$] p86?4J 7@C x?E6C?2E:@?2= s6G6=@A>6?E[ }p$p 2?5 E96 z2E9>2?5F\32D65 x?E6C?2E:@?2= r6?EC6 7@C x?E68C2E65 |@F?E2:? s6G6=@A>6?E[ @C xrx|~s]k^Am

kAmr@G6C:?8 p7892?:DE2?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^32?8=256D9Qmq2?8=256D9k^2m[ |J2?>2C[ }6A2= 2?5 !2<:DE2?[ E96 AC@8C2> FD65 D2E6==:E6D 2?5 86@DA2E:2= 2?2=JD:D 7@C 5:D2DE6C C:D< C65F4E:@?[ H2E6C C6D@FC46D 2?5 =2?5 4@G6C] xE 724:=:E2E65 7=@@5 C:D< D6CG:46D[ 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9 E96 }6A2= #65 rC@DD $@4:6EJ @? C:D< 4@>>F?:42E:@? 2?5 >@C6 E92? `f_ AF3=:4 52E2 D6ED @? 8=24:6CD[ 5:D2DE6CD 2?5 GF=?6C23:=:EJ]k^Am

kAmv=24:2= 2?5 5:D2DE6C AC6A2C65?6DD 6IA6CED AC2:D65 E96 @C82?:K2E:@? 7@C :ED 6IE6?D:G6 C6D62C49[ 4C@DD\3@C56C 4@@C5:?2E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE @7 =@42= 5:D2DE6C C65F4E:@? >62DFC6D]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 =@D:?8 :ED 7F?5:?8 5F6 E@ &$pxs 4FED[ E96 AC@8C2> 255C6DD65 >@F?E:?8 C:D<D :? 2 C68:@? H96C6 4=:>2E6 492?86 92D 42FD65 C2A:5 8=24:6C >6=E[ D9:7E:?8 >@?D@@?D 2?5 :?4C62D:?8=J 7C6BF6?E 7=@@5D[ =2?5D=:56D 2?5 8=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D[ @C v{~uD] %9@D6 492?86D 6?52?86C65 7@@5[ H2E6C 2?5 6?6C8J D64FC:EJ 7@C ?62C=J a 3:==:@? A6@A=6 =:G:?8 :? @C 5@H?DEC62> @7 E96 C68:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ xrx|~s]k^Am

kAmw:>2=2J2? 8=24:6CD 2C6 =@D:?8 >2DD edT 72DE6C E92? E96J H6C6 2 564256 28@[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DJDE6>:B]62CE9^AC@DA6C@FD\2?5\C6D:=:6?E\9:>2=2J2D^Qm?6H C6A@CEk^2m 3J 8=@32= 4@?DF=E2?4J $JDE6>:B[ AC@5F465 H:E9 xrx|~s] *6E @?=J 2C@F?5 _]`T @7 E96 w:>2=2J2’D 6DE:>2E65 c_[___ 8=24:6CD 2C6 4FCC6?E=J >@?:E@C65 :? 56E2:= 2?5 @? 2 DFDE2:?65 32D:D[ E96 C6A@CE D2:5]k^Am

kAm(96? 7F?5:?8 7@C $t#’x#\wzw 6?565[ D@ 5:5 AC@8C2>D E92E >@?:E@C65 =2?5D=:56 7@C642DE:?8[ 52:=J 7=@@5:?8[ EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D 2?5 C68:@?2= 4@==23@C2E:@? 36EH66? 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am

kAm(:E9 E96 AC@8C2>VD =@DD[ >:==:@?D ?@H 7246 2 96:89E6?65 C:D< @7 v{~uD[ H9:49 42? C6=62D6 >:==:@?D @7 4F3:4 >6E6CD @7 H2E6C 2?5 563C:D :? ;FDE 2 76H 9@FCD]k^Am

kAmx? ?@CE96C? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^A2<:DE2?Qm!2<:DE2?k^2m[ >6=E:?8 8=24:6CD 92G6 4C62E65 b[_cc 8=24:2= =2<6D[ H:E9 @G6C b_ :56?E:7:65 2D =:<6=J E@ C6DF=E :? DF49 7=@@5D :? 2C62D H96C6 @G6C f >:==:@? A6@A=6 =:G6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &?:E65 }2E:@?D s6G6=@A>6?E !C@8C2>]k^Am

kAmp7892?:DE2? 2=D@ 7246D 2? :?4C62D65 E9C62E @7 v{~uD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:C:D]F?:=]49^6?E:E:6D^AF3=:42E:@?^hh2f6c__\23f7\c424\h5h7\3b5g6g733_6_QmC6D62C49k^2m AF3=:D965 3J E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 {2FD2??6 :? $H:EK6C=2?5]k^Am

kAmx? x?5:2 — H9:49 H2D ?@E A2CE @7 E96 $t#’x#\wzw AC@8C2> 3FE 3@C56CD 2== @7 E96 4@F?EC:6D E92E H6C6 2?5 :D 2=D@ 9@>6 E@ @G6C 92=7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4=:>2E6\492?86\:?5:2\J2<\96C5:?8\9:>2=2J2D\74fc3`b26fhb6daecf3`37d5_3d2ae7`QmE96 w:>2=2J2Dk^2m — @G6C `b_ 9:89\2=E:EF56 =2<6D 2C6 2E C:D< @7 7=@@5:?8]k^Am

kAm$@FE9 pD:2 :D 2=C625J 6IA6C:6?4:?8 5625=J 4=:>2E6\C6=2E65 5:D2DE6CD] %96 a_aa !2<:DE2? 7=@@5D <:==65 >@C6 E92? `[f__ A6@A=6 2?5 42FD65 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sc_ 3:==:@? :? 52>286] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?6A2=\7=@@5D\49:?2\8=24:6CD\C64@G6CJ\4=:>2E6\492?86\5:D2DE6CD\>@?D@@?D\d45h525b63f2a6hc3hehd`23ad6he`f4Qmu=@@5:?8 :? }6A2= :? a_adk^2m <:==65 ?:?6 A6@A=6 2?5 42FD65 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? 52>286] r=@F53FCDED[ =2?5D=:56D[ 7=2D9 7=@@5D 2?5 6IEC6>6 C2:?72== 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4=@F53FCDE\A2<:DE2?\:?5:2\6IA=2:?6C\4=:>2E6\492?86\a7cacg3d73eb537g373`ggbe2_d56gabQmHC62<65 92G@4 :? E96 x?5:2? w:>2=2J2Dk^2m[ C6DF=E:?8 :? E96 562E9 @7 @G6C `a[___ A6@A=6 2?5 52>286 6I4665:?8 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? E96 =2DE `d J62CD]k^Am

kAm%96 C68:@? DF776C65 64@?@>:4 =@DD6D @7 2E =62DE Sf 3:==:@? :? a_ad 5F6 E@ 4=:>2E6\5C:G6? 6IEC6>6 H62E96C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 t>6C86?4J tG6?ED s2E232D6 >2:?E2:?65 3J E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 {@FG2:?[ q6=8:F>] %9:D 52E232D6 :ED6=7 :D 2E C:D< @7 36:?8 D9FE 5@H? 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 &$pxs 7F?5:?8 4FED]k^Am

kAmx? 2 DE2E6>6?E E@ %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD[ E96 &]$] $E2E6 s6A2CE>6?E D2:5 E92E E96 &]$] DFAA@CED }6A2=’D 7=@@5 H2C?:?8 42A24:EJ E9C@F89 AC@8C2>D H:E9 E96 (@C=5 |6E6@C@=@8:42= ~C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 }2E:@?2= ~462?:4 2?5 pE>@DA96C:4 p5>:?:DEC2E:@?] %96 56A2CE>6?E ?@E65 E92E $t#’x#\wzw 6?565 :? y2?F2CJ a_ad 3FE E92E :ED E@@=D C6>2:? 24E:G6 E9C@F89 xrx|~s]k^Am

kAm%96 :>A24E 6IE6?5D 36J@?5 4@>>F?:E:6D 9:E 5:C64E=J] %96 w:>2=2J2? C68:@? :D G:E2= E@ ?2E:@?2= 64@?@>:6D[ H:E9 28C:4F=EFC6[ :?5FDECJ[ E@FC:D> 2?5 5@>6DE:4 FD6 2== 56A6?56?E FA@? :E]k^Am

kAmrFED E@ AC@8C2>D =:<6 $t#’x#\wzw H:== 92G6 42D425:?8 67764ED 7@C J62CD[ D2:5 }692 #2:[ 2 4=:>2E6 7:?2?46 6IA6CE 2E xrx|~s]k^Am

kAm#2: =:<6?65 E96 4FED E@ 4=:>2E6 AC@8C2>D E@ 23CFAE=J 92=E:?8 7F?5D 7@C 42?46C C6D62C49[ H9:49 ?665D J62CD @7 DFDE2:?65 C6D62C49 7@C DF446DD]k^Am

kAm“r=:>2E6 C:D< :D 2=D@ 2 86?6C2E:@?2= 492==6?86[” D2:5 #2:] “*@F ?665 =@?8\E6C> @3D6CG2E:@?D[ 6IA6CE:D6[ J@F ?665 :?DE:EFE:@?D E92E 42??@E D:>A=J 36 DH:E4965 @77 2?5 @? 2D D9@CE\E6C> AC:@C:E:6D]”k^Am

kAm#2: D2:5 4FED E@ 4C@DD\3@C56C AC@8C2>D 92G6 2=D@ :>A24E65 :?7@C>2E:@? D92C:?8 36EH66? 8@G6C?>6?ED[ D4:6?E:DED 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 C68:@? — 2 4C:E:42= 7F?4E:@? :? 2 C68:@? H96C6 H92E 92AA6?D FADEC62> 5:C64E=J 27764ED 4@F?EC:6D 5@H?DEC62>]k^Am

k9amr=:>2E6 7:?2?46 D9C:?<D 2D GF=?6C23=6 4@F?EC:6D 7246 C:D:?8 563Ek^9am

kAm%96D6 4FED 2C6 A2CE @7 2 =2C86C EC6?5] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 ~C82?:K2E:@? 7@C t4@?@>:4 r@@A6C2E:@? 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E[ @77:4:2= 56G6=@A>6?E 2DD:DE2?46 7C@> :ED s6G6=@A>6?E pDD:DE2?46 r@>>:EE66 >6>36CD[ H9:49 :?4=F56D E96 &]$][ 76== abT :? a_ad — E96 =2C86DE 2??F2= 4@?EC24E:@? @? C64@C5] %C25:E:@?2==J =2C86 5@?@CD DF49 2D E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>[ v6C>2?J[ uC2?46[ y2A2? 2?5 r2?252 92G6 2=D@ 2??@F?465 >2DD:G6 C65F4E:@?D[ C62==@42E:?8 7F?5D E@ 5676?D6 2?5 @E96C 5@>6DE:4 AC:@C:E:6D]k^Am

kAmv=@32= $@FE9 4@F?EC:6D DA6?5 2AAC@I:>2E6=J aad E:>6D >@C6 :? 563E C6A2J>6?ED E92? H92E E96J C646:G6 :? 8C2?E\32D65 4=:>2E6 7:?2?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E C6A@CE 3J E96 25G@424J 8C@FA[ p4E:@?p:5 x?E6C?2E:@?2=]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 :D 2 E@I:4 C6=2E:@?D9:A[ :? 724E[ 36EH66? E96 4=:>2E6 4C:D:D 2?5 E96 563E 4C:D:D[” D2:5 %6C6D2 p?56CD6? @7 p4E:@?p:5 x?E6C?2E:@?2=]k^Am

kAm$96 D2:5 4@F?EC:6D E2<6 =@2?D E@ C64@G6C 7C@> 4=:>2E6 :>A24ED 3FE E96? 4FE :?G6DE>6?ED :? 4=62? 6?6C8J 2?5 AC6A2C2E:@?D 7@C 7FEFC6 4=:>2E6\C6=2E65 6IEC6>6 H62E96C E@ C6A2J E96 =@2?D]k^Am

kAm%96 >@?6J 36:?8 AC@G:565 :D?’E ?62C=J 6?@F89[ 2?5 4=:>2E6 @7E6? :D?’E AC:@C:E:K65[ D2:5 #:492C5 $96C>2?[ 2 3@2C5 >6>36C @7 E96 uF?5 7@C #6DA@?5:?8 E@ {@DD 2?5 s2>286[ 2? :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4=:>2E6 7:?2?46 >6492?:D> E@ 2DD:DE 56G6=@A:?8 4@F?EC:6D GF=?6C23=6 E@ E96 25G6CD6 67764ED @7 4=:>2E6 492?86]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D A=6?EJ @7 >@?6J :7 :E 8@6D E@ 46CE2:? AC:@C:E:6D[ 3FE 7@C 4=:>2E6 492?86 C:89E ?@H[ H6’C6 H:E?6DD:?8 2 D6G6C6 56AC64:2E:@? @7 E96 :>A@CE2?46 E@ 24E 2?5 >2<6 DJDE6>D >@C6 C6D:=:6?E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 5:D2DE6C C64@G6CJ 7F?5D DE:== 6I:DE[ E96JVC6 2=D@ =@D:?8 7F?5:?8 2?5 2C6?’E 6BF:AA65 E@ 92?5=6 E96 6IA64E65 :?4C62D6 :? 5:D2DE6CD[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 ?@E 6IA64E:?8 56G6=@A65 4@F?EC:6D E@ 24E 2D 2? p%|[” D2:5 $96C>2?] “qFE DFAA@CE:?8 GF=?6C23=6 4@F?EC:6D[ 96=A:?8 E96> 252AE 2?5 364@>6 >@C6 C6D:=:6?E >62?D E96J’C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ DF776C E96 <:?5 @7 :>A24ED H6 92G6 C:89E ?@H]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmpC2DF C6A@CE65 7C@> q6?82=FCF[ x?5:2]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am