Himalayan Snowfall Hits Record Low, Threatening 2 Billion Lives
Scientists have warned that snowfall levels in Asia’s Hindu Kush-Himalayan range have fallen to their lowest in recent years, putting the lives of nearly two billion people at risk.
According to a report by the European news agency AFP, researchers said that snowfall in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region has reached its lowest level in 23 years.
This mountain range stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar. Its ice storage is the largest in the world after the Arctic and Antarctica, and it is an important source of fresh water for millions of people.
The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) revealed in its research that the duration of snowfall in the Himalayas has decreased by 23.6 percent, the lowest decrease in the last 23 years.
The impact of this reduction will be a reduction in the supply of water from melting snow, which will increase the risk of severe water shortages and droughts in the region.
According to the ICIMOD report, the lack of winter snowfall could lead to serious water shortages in the region, which could affect not only land fertility but also public life.
The study also mentions that clczo kirmv uuv the dependence on groundwater lc increasing, so drought risks are increasing.
The report urges river basins in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to take practical measures for better water management and drought preparedness.
In addition, ICIMOD also stressed the importance of regional cooperation and improved warning systems.
Regarding the impacts of climate change, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that Asia is the region most affected by climate disasters.
The rate of glacier melt has accelerated in the past six years, indicating that climate change and its impacts could become more severe.
This report highlights the serious concerns for water supplies in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region and stresses the need for governments and regional institutions to take urgent action to address the crisis.
