Thar drought situation termed alarming
MITHI: The relief inspecting judge for Tharparkar, Mian Fayyaz Rabbani, has urged the government to pay attention to the ‘alarming situation’ in this district as the aggravating drought may cause more human lives.
Speaking to the media during his visit to the Mithi Civil Hospital, Mr Rabbani observed that thousands of people were starving while relief goods meant for them were being misappropriated on a large scale.
The entire district lacks adequate healthcare facilities, according to him.
The relief judge said he brought to the notice of the relevant authorities the misappropriation of relief goods worth millions of rupees and identified the culprits but no attention was being paid to the issue.
Even the official caught red-handed and suspended was reinstated at the Mithi warehouse of relief goods, he regretted.
He wondered that the government appeared to be indifferent to the catastrophic situation where 400 people thousands of cattle heads had already perished in this district over past few months owing to starvation, malnutrition and diseases.
HYDERABAD: The National Humanitarian Network (NHN), an non-governmental organisation, held a provincial forum here on Wednesday to discuss drought in Tharparkar district.
Speaking about effects of Tharparkar conditions, especially on children and women, NHN representative Ali Akbar Rahimoon said people were still suffering due to the drought.
He said that at the peak of the drought, the stakeholders were busy providing assistance but the current situation indicated that none of the camp/emergency assistance continued as per the stipulated time.
Noor Mohammad Bajeer said the Sindh government had not helped affected people. Sartaj Abbasi said the NHN conducted public forums in different towns and cities of Tharparkar to have views of people regarding drought.
The recommendations prepared on the basis of the facts urged the government to ensure provision of immediate financial assistance to the families whose children died during the emergency; doctors should be appointed on 134 vacant posts; and at least 200 veterinary doctors should be hired to save animals of the Thar people.
The NHN demanded of government to fulfil commitment to ensure food supplies to the affected population. UC level distribution committees should be made functional.
The government should initiate a mechanism which could ensure an equal and adequate distribution of relief goods among the drought-hit population.
Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2014