Hindu Kush Himalayan Ice at Risk
Global warming is not only posing a serious threat to glaciers, it will also result in a loss of 33 per cent of total ice volume in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region which extends from Afghanistan to Myanmar by the end of the century, leading dire consequences for people living there according to the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
When the glaciers retreat, new lakes will be formed and this has already happened in Sikkim in India. The increased water mass can cause flash floods if the lakes and dams overflow or burst bringing a new risk to the people living there. The HKH sources 10 major river systems in Asia that provide water, ecosystem services and livelihoods to more than 210 million people. The region holds and distributes water for more than 1.3 billion people living in the downstream river basins.
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