Pakistan, JACOBABAD, Feb 21 (Alliance News): The water supply project providing relief to Jacobabad—Pakistan’s hottest city—is at risk as former US President Donald Trump’s aid freeze blocks crucial funding, NGO HANDS has warned.
Jacobabad frequently records temperatures above 50°C (122°F), leading to severe health risks such as dehydration and heat strokes.
A $66 million USAID grant in 2012 helped renovate a water purification plant supplying 1.5 million gallons of clean water daily to 350,000 residents.
However, the recent freeze on $1.5 million in aid has jeopardized the project, with services likely to cease within months, HANDS CEO Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed said.
The Trump administration’s decision, part of a broader overhaul of US foreign aid, forced HANDS to withdraw 47 staff members responsible for maintaining the infrastructure.
Without alternative funding, the project is now in the hands of the local government, which lacks the technical and financial expertise to sustain operations.
Residents fear the loss of clean water will force them to rely on costly and often contaminated private water tankers.
“Before, our women had to walk for hours to fetch water,” said 18-year-old student Noor Ahmed, while others highlighted the dangers of consuming untreated water.
Pakistan, ranked as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, has repeatedly called on high-emission nations to provide aid to mitigate the effects of climate change.
With the looming water crisis in Jacobabad, activists stress that urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of a vital lifeline for thousands.
