Climate change: Storms are wreaking havoc on innocent lives, low and middle income countries are most affected..

Tropical storms are dangerously increasing the mortality rate of newborns and infants in poor countries. This is also a matter of concern because this effect is more visible in those countries where the condition of health services is already weak and resources are limited.

According to this research published in the scientific journal Science Advances, the frequency and intensity of tropical storms are increasing continuously due to climate change. The effect of these storms is most visible in low and middle-income countries, where disaster preparedness is limited. Dr. Zachary Wagner, senior economist at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and lead author of this study, said that the mortality rate of children affected by storms was 11 percent higher than normal. This figure is equivalent to 4.4 more deaths per 1,000 live births. This increase is not limited to high-intensity storms, but low-intensity storms also pose an equal threat to the lives of children.

Lack of nutrition or health care is not the only reason.
It is often believed that the main reason for the increase in child mortality after natural disasters is the lack of health services and nutrition for pregnant women. However, this research has made it clear that there are some other reasons behind the increase in mortality, whose clear information has not been found yet. This shows that our understanding and preparation to deal with the impact of storms are incomplete. This fact demands more in-depth study in the coming times.

Long-term physical-mental effects on children
According to another research, children under 5 are particularly vulnerable when exposed to natural disasters like storms. Apart from the immediate trauma and loss caused by a natural disaster, children also suffer long-term physical, mental, and educational losses. Thousands of children in poor countries have become disabled after being hit by storms. An increase of 9 to 18% was observed in acute diseases such as diarrhea, fever, and respiratory diseases in children. After experiencing a disaster, 50% of children report post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as recurrent thoughts about the disaster, hyper-vigilance, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating.

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