Protection of environmental and climate change migrants or refugees and the debate on the legal framework of refugees’ rehabilitation is a matter of major concern for international humanitarian as well as development oriented organizations. But there is little focus on gradual or slow-onset disasters and there is little ethnographic research work in the regions under severe permanent threats because of environmental and climate change. Although most developing countries have signed international conventions on the protection of environmental and climate change migrants and refugees, there is no or little background research for a wider understanding with right to use of resources by the marginalized sections of population of these coastal and deltaic disaster zones.

The physical presence of historic villages and habitats on the Indus Delta is observed to be under threat due to environmental changes and permanent disasters. The delta of River Indus has distinct social, economical and environmental features as compared to the rest of the coast of Pakistan. The delta population, being the lower riparian of the River Indus, receives a limited flow of fresh water. This is causing environmental degradation and negatively impacting traditional livelihoods, survival and resilience patterns in the presence of high levels of social inequality. Climate and environmental changes over time are deemed as a root cause of the rise of sea level which is leading to a loss of land, rendering it unusable for cultivation, increase in salinity, depletion of mangrove forests and a decline in fish catch.

This paper is an outcome of field visits to the Indus delta’s inland and the island villages in Kharo Chan in particular. In this paper, the focus is on environmentally induced migration caused by slow-onset disasters and its linkages with social inequality based on class, caste and kinship groups.

Social science researchers’ contribution to climate change and global warming science may prioritise linking existing social inequality with induced or voluntary migration in both, temporary or permanent disasters cases. The Indus Basin’s controlled fresh water flows might be potential for perennial agricultural products and vital for food security but water management, environmental experts and pro-development national and international organizations need to regard the indigenous habitants of the coast and the Indus Delta’s ecology.

Disputes regarding Indus Waters between India and Pakistan and upper and lower riparian provinces of Pakistan, the demand for construction of more dams and political movements against mega dam projects are ongoing simultaneously. A high decline in fresh water flows in Indus Delta is a contentious issue for water and environmental experts in the region. The evidence from historic, geographical and ethnographic research and evidences and perceptions from diverse community groups and individuals provide an authentic viewpoint that gradual and rapid decline in fresh water flows in Indus Delta is main cause of sea intrusion. However, the main disadvantageous groups are those who are socially marginalized, asset less, with poor networks in urban residential and commercial markets and are therefore, more vulnerable to this slow-onset environmental disaster.