More than 243 million children in East Asia and the Pacific are at risk of heat-related illness and death, according to the United Nations agency, as the region faces a record-breaking summer in the coming months.
Warnings of more intense and frequent heatwaves in the region this summer are particularly concerning because high humidity makes it harder for the body to cool down naturally. UNICEF says that because children are less able to regulate their body temperature than adults, they are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as chronic respiratory disease, asthma and cardiovascular disease.
“Children are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than adults, and overheating is a potentially deadly threat to them,” Deborah Comini, UNICEF regional director for East Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement on Thursday. “We must remain extremely vigilant this summer to protect children and vulnerable people from worsening heatwaves and other climate shocks.”
UNICEF’s warning comes amid reports that March marked the tenth month in a row of record-breaking heat, with temperatures exceeding climate targets across much of the northern and southern hemispheres.
In Southeast Asia, concerns about extreme heat have prompted authorities to issue warnings or take action. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported two deaths this week and urged people to take precautions against heatstroke. The Philippines last week suspended in-person classes in some cities across the country and shifted to remote learning due to hot weather. The Philippine Weather Service warned earlier this year that 2024 could be one of the country’s warmest years on record.
Unicef said it urged parents and caregivers to create cool places for children to play at home and at school so they can avoid outdoor activities, and to ensure children wear breathable clothing to help regulate heat. The agency added that children who develop symptoms of heat stress should be hospitalized.
According to UNICEF projections, by 2050, regardless of greenhouse gas emissions, 2 billion children around the world are expected to suffer from high-frequency heat waves.
