SOUTH ASIA

8 COUNTRIES IN SOUTH ASIA

I. ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

1. Afghanistan

Afghanistan Earthquake News: Another powerful

earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck Herat Province in
Afghanistan.
Afghan volunteers clear the debris of damaged village houses after a series of
earthquakes in Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on October 9, 2023. Afghan
villagers and volunteers on October 9 helped dig for survivors of a series of
earthquakes that killed more than 2,000 people, as aid began trickling into the
devastated region. | Photo Credit: AFP

Digital, T. N. (2023, October 11). Afghanistan earthquake News | 6.3 magnitude quake hits Western province | Fresh damages reported. TimesNow.
https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/mirror-now/society/afghanistan-earthquake-news-6-3-magnitude-quake-hits-western-province-fresh-damages-reported-video-104337432?
fbclid=IwAR2kyllIvRJ_Bk1JDnIIpMDNkEHaPQluGcF203vv35CQmrIBIFF7b58K71s

2. Pakistan
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Pakistan enduring Rs 365 billion annual damages due

to pollution: NA told
By Mati February 23, 2016

The minister stressed that Environmental Protection Agencies of provinces and

federal should make a comprehensive strategy to tackle this issue.

Mati, & Mati. (2016, February 23). Pakistan enduring Rs 365 billion annual damages due to pollution: NA told. Dispatch
News Desk. https://dnd.com.pk/pakistan-enduring-rs-365-billion-annual-damages-due-to-pollution-na-told/106399

3. India
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How climate crisis will trigger more water wars in

India
Story by Chandrima Banerjee •2d
How climate crisis will trigger more water wars in India© Provided by The Times of India

All of this is happening while water stress keeps getting worse, especially here.
Globally, the number of water conflicts in the past 20 years is double that of the
rest of human history. And while most have happened in West Asia, where desert
and oil make for a difficult mix, the next worst region has been South Asia. For
context, there have been more water conflicts in South Asia than in Sub-Saharan
Africa — a lead our region took only in the 2010s.
MSN. (n.d.-c). https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/hollywood/how-climate-crisis-will-trigger-more-water-wars-in

india/ar-AA1hX4yS

4. Nepal
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Did Nepal Earthquakes Trigger Flash Floods In Sikkim?

Scientists Say… Updated Oct 6, 2023 | 12:23 PM IST
A flash flood in river Teesta in Sikkim's Lachen valley has wreaked havoc in the city.
Although it is believed that the flash floods were caused by the cloudburst, experts
have something else to say. Some experts who have reportedly visited the disaster
site claim that cloudbursts cannot cause these type of flash floods.

Digital, T. N. (2023a, October 6). Did Nepal Earthquakes Trigger Flash Floods In Sikkim? Scientists Say. . ... TimesNow.
https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/did-nepal-earthquakes-trigger-flash-floods-in-sikkim-scientists-say-
video-104207371?fbclid=IwAR2oZwl3BJ-0eMaekuf-IGJ4-65tiNTQv7aR2gdHVOMiFwmSmFij4Khbc50
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5. Bhutan

As mining booms in Bhutan, environmental

damage and allegations of corruption are
rampant
The kingdom’s mineral extraction activities have long been embroiled in
controversies and criticised for putting corporate interests before people and nature.

Gyelmo, D. (2021, July 4). As mining booms in Bhutan, environmental damage and allegations of corruption are

rampant. Scroll.in. https://scroll.in/article/999012/as-mining-booms-in-bhutan-environmental-damage-

and-allegations-of-corruption-are-rampant
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6. Bangladesh

Blašković, T. (2022, October 25). Tropical Cyclone “Sitrang” makes landfall in Bangladesh, damaging 10 000 homes and
leaving at least 25 people dead. The Watchers. https://watchers.news/2022/10/25/tropical-cyclone-sitrang-makes-landfall-
in-bangladesh-damaging-10-000-homes-and-leaving-at-least-25-people-dead/#:~:text=Tropical%20Cyclone
%20%E2%80%9CSitrang%E2%80%9D%20made%20landfall%20along%20the%20Chittagong-Barisal,000%20people%20were
%20evacuated%20ahead%20of%20the%20landfall.
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7. Sri Lanka
DEFORESTATION AND ILLEGAL
CONSTRUCTION: A THREAT TO SRI
LANKA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
by Kris Thomas

Deforestation and illegal construction in protected areas tend to grab the mainstream
media’s attention whenever a popular politician or a public figure is involved in any manner.
A good example is, of course, the issue of the illegal construction of a housing scheme
inside Wilpattu.

However, there are other cases that go unnoticed by a majority of people, or don’t hold the
limelight for long. In recent times, environmentalists have raised awareness about three
specific instances of such deforestation and illegal construction in protected or vulnerable
areas:

Sri Lanka Foundation. (2016, September 15). Deforestation And Illegal Construction: A Threat To Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment - Sri Lanka
Foundation. https://www.srilankafoundation.org/newsfeed/deforestation-and-illegal-construction-a-threat-to-sri-lankas-natural-
environment/
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8. Maldives

Maldives island swamped by rising tide of waste

Judith Evans in Malé APRIL 24 2015

The tropical archipelago attracts more than 1m tourists each year, drawn by its
natural beauty and marine life. But behind its pristine image lie a growing range
of pressing environmental problems.

Evans, J. (2015, April 24). Maldives island swamped by rising tide of waste. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/29399966-e80b-
11e4-9960-00144feab7de