NICOLA Sturgeon's government faces calls to send further aid to the victims of Pakistan's floods as one third of the country is under water.
After being battered by monsoons, 1100 people so far are known to have died.
This includes 348 children and it is believed that a further 1600 people have been injured, with that figure expected to rise significantly.
Crops across Pakistan have also been decimated, sparking fears over widespread hunger and devastating impacts on people’s livelihoods.
READ MORE: Glasgow's Sarwar Foundation in urgent charity appeal to tackle floods in Pakistan
On Tuesday, the SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts said she had written to the First Minister calling for action.
The letter noted how “the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan” have been amongst the areas hit hardest by the floods.
It continued: “Scotland continues to be a world leader on climate change, with the Scottish Government already declaring a climate emergency.
“Nations such as Pakistan require our full support both financially and through progressive policy to help mitigate the impact of climate change – something I know the Scottish Government is committed to.”
"I am proud that the Scottish Government has ensured that the onus to bear the brunt of clmate emergency does not lie with the Global South, rather with the developed economies who often do not feel the impact of climate change."
One third of Pakistan is underwater.
— Anum Qaisar MP (@AnumSNP) August 30, 2022
33 million people impacted.
Tonight I’ve written to First Minister @NicolaSturgeon asking what action the Scottish Government can take to help Pakistan.
👇 pic.twitter.com/sS2BvauNU9
Qaisar added: “In line with our commitments in the Climate Justice Fund, what action can the Scottish Government take to help the people of Pakistan in this time of crisis?
The Climate Justice Fund was launched in 2012 which aims to ensure that the impact of climate change does not disproportionately hit those countries who have done the least to contribute to it.
From 2022, the Scottish Government pledged to increase the fund to £36m.
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman is also calling for aid to be mobilised to help with the crisis.
She said: “This is more evidence of just how places such as Pakistan and their neighbours are on the front line of climate catastrophe.
“We now know more than 1100 people have died already in the monsoon floods, but we fear this figure will only rise horrifically in the coming days. We are told a third of the country is under water and unable to reach help.
“But as tragic as it is already, things are only likely to get worse. More rain and floods are on their way, and with temperatures hitting 40C, it is the perfect conditions for mosquitos and waterborne diseases.”
In total, around 33 million people have been impacted with 30,000 homes destroyed, sparking an emerging refugee crisis.
The Pakistani government estimates that the floods will cost $10 billion.
Chapman continued: “I will be asking the Scottish Government through its Humanitarian Emergency Fund, the UK Government and the Disasters Emergency Committee just what help can be offered to the region, including how the people of Scotland can get involved.
“Additionally, this will be a hugely worrying and heart-breaking time for the very many families here in Scotland who may have relatives in the worst affected places, and all efforts should be made to help and support them.”
She added that it down to wealthy countries to step in, but also to look at their part in causing such devastating events.
Chapman continued: “As wealthy nations like the UK continue to enable planet-killing emissions through failures over oil and gas, these are the effects.
“Climate knows no borders and neither should the help we need to give.”
As well as this, Qaisar has also called on the UK Government to increase its levels of international aid.
Whilst she welcomed the announcement of £1.5m in immediate flood relief, the MP is calling for an increase in funding to provide Pakistan with essential relief as it begins to re-construct the impacted areas.
Qaisar said: “At a time where the UK Government has taken the decision to cut levels of foreign aid spending, countries such as Pakistan are in desperate need of immediate financial assistance, as well as long term commitments to tackling the climate emergency.”
Scotland's International Development Minister Neil Gray said: "The floods in Pakistan, which have left millions of people homeless and vast swathes of the country under water, represent a devastating international emergency.
"The Scottish Government is urgently considering what action can be taken to support the relief effort."
The British High Comissioner to Pakistan Chrisitan Turner said in an interview on Tuesday: "We are considering urgently options for additional support. Those are being drawn up."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here