Press Statement: Massive floods across Asia

PRESS STATEMENT: Massive floods across Asia
26^th July 2025                      

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) expresses deep concern and solidarity with the communities in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other Asian countries who are currently facing devastating floods triggered by unprecedented and intensified monsoon rains. The loss of lives, destruction of homes, farms, agricultural livelihoods and infrastructure, and widespread displacement serve as a grave reminder of the worsening impacts of the global climate crisis, especially on the most vulnerable population, including Indigenous Peoples.

The recurring and intensifying floods including forest fires across Asia are no longer natural disasters. They are the consequences of the deteriorating planet health, driven by corporate greed, environmental destruction, and continued inaction on the climate crisis. It’s regrettable that Indigenous communities, especially women and children, who have contributed least to global emissions and who have long stewarded their ecosystems, are among those most disproportionately affected.

We call for immediate action:

1. The governments, humanitarian agencies, and the international community must act swiftly to provide immediate relief and recovery support.
2. The flood is a part of a broader pattern of global climate injustice; therefore, we urge the governments in Asia to collectively act on their climate commitments in line with the Paris Agreement.
3. We reiterate our call to the government, UN agencies, and other relevant actors to collaborate with Indigenous Peoples in designing effective climate solutions.
4. Beyond emergency relief, the government and international communities must support long-term prevention and climate resilience, community preparedness, and environmental restoration, grounded in Indigenous Peoples’ rights as enshrined in the UNDRIP.

We stand in solidarity with all those affected and call on all actors – governments, UN agencies, donors, civil society organizations –to treat this as a time to act on the climate emergency.

Reference:

Beverly L. Longid
Chairperson
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

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