Despite the fact that the earthquake was not a result of human induced climate change, its impact adds to the growing list of natural disasters and man-made crises straining the system to its limits.

As the world faces the worsening effects of climate inaction — in the form of stronger storms, rampant floods, persistent droughts, and scorching heatwaves — more and more people are in dire need of assistance. At the same time, traditional disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, as well as ongoing wars, pandemics, and terrorist attacks, continue to pose threats to vulnerable populations.

The situation is exacerbated by the unwillingness of wealthy nations to provide the necessary resources and support. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, it is imperative that the global community acts urgently to address this pressing issue.

Six months after the onset of the devastating floods in Pakistan, 200,000 people are still struggling to recover from the disaster. Despite the passage of time, their living conditions remain dire. As winter sets in, many are still living in makeshift shelters by the side of the road, exposed to the elements and vulnerable to disease and assault.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Pakistan is a wake-up call to the world. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been hard-pressed to meet the scale of the challenge. Budget cuts and a reduction in staff have hampered the agency’s ability to coordinate a global response. In 2015, OCHA employed 2,300 people and had a budget of $334 million. By 2020, these numbers had declined to 2,000 employees and $307 million. Pakistan was not spared from these cuts, with OCHA’s presence in the country downgraded from a full-fledged country office to a humanitarian advisory team.

The consequences of these cutbacks were felt acutely in the aftermath of the floods. OCHA did not produce a humanitarian response plan for 2022, and when the disaster struck, it had only a small team in place to survey the damage. The agency’s efforts to raise funds were also hindered by its limited resources and media contacts. On 30 August 2022, OCHA put out an appeal for $160 million, which was met by foreign governments but fell far short of what was needed. A subsequent appeal for $820 million received only $262 million in pledges.

The failure of OCHA in Pakistan is a clear indication of what can happen when humanitarian aid is not given the attention and resources it deserves. Climate change is making disasters like floods and storms increasingly frequent, and the world must be prepared to respond. The UN must work to restore its capacity to coordinate a global response and ensure that it has the funds and staff needed to help those in need. With a limited budget, OCHA’s upgrading of its presence in Pakistan will likely mean cutbacks elsewhere, highlighting the urgent need for increased support for humanitarian aid efforts around the world.