ASIA/NEPAL - The health of more than 80% of the population is at risk

Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) - In the village of Nagarkot in central Nepal, the inhabitants of the district of Bhaktapur, in addition to living in extreme poverty, are also prone to health problems caused by greenhouse gases and black smoke from the inadequate combustion of wood and biomass. These two elements are identified as the main agents of global warming that causes climate change. According to a research published by the 'International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank ("Household Cookstoves, Environment, Health, and Climate Change: A New Look at an Old Problem"), shows that industrialized countries annually burn about 730 million tons of fuel for domestic use, releasing greenhouse gases into the air. According to the research, in areas close to the accumulation of ice and snow as the Himalayas, there is evidence that the soot of the stoves is accelerating the melting. It seems that the traditional stoves represent almost a quarter of the emissions of soot. Large amounts of firewood is consumed, thus leading to a rapid degradation of forests and putting them at risk of deforestation. From another study conducted in 2008, concerning indoor pollution (IAP) showed that it is the fourth most important risk factor after malnutrition. Over 80% of the population in Nepal (about 20 million people), mostly in poor rural areas, is dangerously exposed to IAP. Among the poorest countries in the world, in most areas of Nepal there is a lack of electricity and gas for cooking, and the country is forced to buy these services from India at very high costs. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 10/09/2011)