According to a United Nations organization, over 243 million children in East Asia and the Pacific are at risk of heat-related illnesses and mortality as the area prepares for a record-breaking summer.
The region is particularly concerned about the warnings of more intense and frequent heat waves this summer because high humidity makes it harder for the body to naturally cool down.
Children are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses such chronic respiratory disorders, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases since they are less able to control their body temperature than adults, according to United Nations Children’s Fund.
The Unicef warning is issued in the midst of news that March was the tenth straight month of record-breaking heat, with temperatures exceeding climate targets for populations in much of the northern and southern hemisphere.
Concerns about excessive heat have led authorities in Southeast Asia to issue advisories or take other appropriate action.
Following the announcement of two deaths this week, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health advised citizens to take preventative measures against heat strokes. Owing to the heat, the Philippines last week canceled in-person lessons in a few places throughout the nation and switched to remote learning. Early this year, the Philippine weather bureau issued a warning, speculating that 2024 would rank among the country’s warmest years ever.
According to Unicef’s projections, all of the world’s two billion children are expected to be exposed to high heat wave frequency by 2050, regardless of its greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
