People in Tharparkar, the desert area of Sindh, are facing famine-like situation in most of the areas where at least 32 malnourished children are reported to have died owing to food shortage. At least 193 children have died in Thar over the past three months.
On the other hand, reports said that thousands of tonnes of wheat sent by the provincial government for distribution among the people is rotting in Food Department’s godowns.
In recent days, thousands of families have been affected by the drought which compelled them to leave their homes and move to other areas in search of water.
On Thursday, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his concern over the grave situation in Thar and directed Sindh Government to immediately launch relief operations in the affected areas.
On his direction, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah took the notice of children’s deaths and visited civil hospital Mithi.
His government has spent millions of rupees on Sindh Festival, but the relief announced by the CM was mere 25 kg wheat each for affected family. When the reporters raised question over the quantity of the relief and termed it insufficient, the CM said “I can’t do anything further; this is only what we have for the relief.”
He rejected reports about number of children’s deaths, and directed health officials to provide adequate medical facilities to the ailing children.
The other thing he did during his visit was suspension of Tharparkar deputy director of livestock/animal husbandry Dr Nobat Khan Khoso for his failure to prevent animal disease in the desert.
The CM claimed that Sindh government has increased the amount of aid for Tharparkar from Rs 9.3 million to Rs18.6 million.
Ranikhet disease has left hundreds of peacocks dead in Tharparkar.
Published in the XReports.net, on March 7th, 2014 | PT
