Stories about Disaster
The ‘sinking of Joshimath’ leaves thousands homeless in an Indian hill town
People face displacement in Joshimath, a Himalayan town in India due to added burden of anthropogenic activity in an earthquake prone zone.
Amid fears of contamination, Japan will soon dump treated water from Fukushima Nuclear Plant into the Pacific
"(The plan) shows direct disregard for the sovereignty and self-determination of Pacific peoples and the ocean their livelihoods depend upon."
Public self-immolation puts the spotlight on mental health issues in Nepal
A Nepali entrepreneur set himself on fire in front of the federal parliament building to bring attention to the challenges in Nepal's private sector and the state's mental health crisis.
Bollywood’s ‘Faraaz’ raises questions about trauma exploitation in art
The upcoming Bollywood thriller “Faraaz” sparked controversy in Bangladesh and a legal battle in India because of the incorrect portrayal of the key characters and the victims’ right to privacy.
Over 40,000 tons of neurotoxin were stored without any protection in North Macedonia
Skopje primary schools used the area for day trips "in nature" for years, until watchdog journalists uncovered the dark secret lurking under the green meadows: toxic waste from the 1970s.
Climate change, digital authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns ruled in South Asia in 2022
With 2022 nearly over, situations in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were extremely difficult. So, what did this year hold in store for South Asia? Read on.
Pundits say unblocking the Lachin Corridor is the only way to avoid humanitarian crisis
Lachin Corridor is the only route connecting Armenia to Karabakh and its blocking has disrupted access to essential goods and services for the population living in Karabakh.
Documentary about the 1920s Volga famine is prohibited in Russia but broadcasted on YouTube
A Russian documentary covering the 1921–1923 famine in the Volga region is banned by the Russian government for unclear reasons, but made available online on YouTube.
The climate crisis is a water crisis in the Himalayas
Climate change is heating up the Himalayas faster than the global average, disrupting this water cycle. The rains are becoming more erratic, groundwater is depleting, and glaciers have shrunk.
What did the outside world in the 1930s know about the Soviet famine and the ‘Holodomor’ in Ukraine?
Many Ukrainians used social networks to raise awareness of the 1932-1933 Soviet famine as they see the ongoing Russian aggression against their country as a continuation of the same imperial repression.
Nepali migrant workers who built the World Cup stadiums are completely forgotten
Rights-based organizations and international media are raising their voices for forgotten migrant workers of Qatar but the Nepali media fell short in covering the human cost of the Football World Cup.
Cry me a river: Trinidad faces more serious flooding and anguish
Steady rains have caused rivers across the island to reach their limit and overflow, bringing major flooding to plains and other low-lying areas.
Research flags Sri Lanka where over 9.5 million people may descend into poverty
The ongoing economic crisis, food inflation, and job losses in Sri Lanka have impacted negatively on living conditions and are expected to increase poverty substantially in the country.
Dhaka: A refuge that needs to be rescued
Dhaka, the fastest-growing megacity in the world, is facing a climate crisis as groundwater resources deplete and the city sinks more and more each year.
Is the ‘water machine of Bengal’ preventing more flood disasters in Bangladesh?
A recent study shows that pumping groundwater to irrigate agricultural lands in Bangladesh can create available subsurface storage for excess floodwater to be stored during the next monsoon.
‘Where’s the President?’ trends as super typhoon batters the Philippines
"How tone deaf and insensitive can you be to post a vlog about your New York trip while Filipinos brace for the impact of super typhoon."
Guadeloupe suffers after passage of Tropical Storm Fiona
'The storm’s projected path will see the Dominican Republic feeling her effects by September 18. Thus far, she has maintained speeds of 85 km (50 miles) per hour.'
Devastating Pakistan floods put climate change and climate justice under spotlight
The recent devastating floods in Pakistan have put the spotlight back on climate justice. A combination of factors such as extreme heatwave, melting glaciers and unusually heavy monsoons triggered floods.
Solar powered device reduces human-animal conflict in India
An innovative device uses solar-powered technology to generate light flashes to scare animals away from agricultural fields, without harming them. This promises to reduce crop loss from wildlife attacks.
A water diplomacy expert discusses the prospects of water conflict and cooperation in Central Asia
There are sufficient water resources in the region, but the regional cooperation is challenged by poor governance frameworks and weak institutional capacity.
China’s COVID tests carry on despite heatwaves, droughts, power cuts and wildfires
China has been hit with the most severe heatwave and drought in its history. However, the natural disasters have not deterred the country from conducting widespread COVID-19 tests.
