Extreme Heat and COVID-19: The Impact on the Urban Poor in Asia and Africa
Date
02/2022Author
Abdullah, Adam
Amin, Sadia
Amir, Sulfikar
Anwar, Nausheen H.
Campbell, Kirsten
Nandatama, Yemiko H.
Khandekar, Aalok
Latha, PK
Mehmood, Sajid
Morelle, Marie
Toheed, Muhammad
Nastiti, Anindrya
Ramadhan, Dani M.
Shanmugam, Rekha
Ufaira, Rifda
Venugopal, Vidhya
Wasiah, Nadiyatur
Metadata
Abstract
The study provides substantial new data on the direct as well as indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, thermal comfort and heat-related illness, in Jakarta (Indonesia), Hyderabad (India), Karachi and Hyderabad (Pakistan) and Douala (Cameroon). These cities are home to very large or rapidly growing low-income populations dealing with extreme heat.
Alongside data on heat exposure and symptoms associated with heat-related illness, the report supplies supplementary data points on access to electricity, water, food, health services, as well as income and food intake during the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be of use to policy makers and researchers.
The report is intended for use by governmental and non-governmental organisations in these cities and countries as they work to fine-tune policy and programme responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and avoid heat-related health impacts. Its broader findings are intended to be of use to inform interventions in urban areas facing similar challenges across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia.