The upcoming crisis in Sindh

The upcoming crisis in Sindh

The downpour has stopped for the moment but a large number of people in Sindh, displaced or affected by the 2010-11 floods, are in danger of another disaster.

A statement issued by four international aid agencies working with flood victims in the areas said that their work with as many as five million people likely to be shortened for deficiency of finances.

The agencies released warning stating that the lives of nine million people are at menace from diseases and starvation.

The United Nation appealed the international community for $357 million when flood struck in the province. However, less than a third of the amount was donated by the international community.

According to the reports, some three million people are still required emergency food while 0.8 million are still displaced. At the same time, the provincial government has claimed that four districts were still inundated.

The people and institutions working close in the relief operations stated that the effects of this year’s floods were sensed worse than the effects in the last year.

The government’s response in the situation was severely criticized both at national and international level.

The relief agencies expressed discontent at the below standard of working relationship with the government institutions.

Oxfam, an international aid agency, stated it is mulling to finish its operation with the flood affected people by December 2011.

Another international organization, Save the Children, also increased only 35 per cent of its target funding while CARE is also facing shortage of funds of 91 per cent.

In case the international aid agencies are not forthcoming, the government is likely to reduce relief efforts. There is an enormous humane disaster that endangered to overpower a generation in the province that faces a future of long-standing starvation
in both children and adults. It may take decades to overcome the devastated rural economy.

The next season is forthcoming and people are suffering by cold weather and are all the more prone to ailment.

The officials from the government departments are issuing warnings that the acute problems of the province are likely to promote the spread of diseases during winter and the 800,000 still don’t have shelters and are helpless.

However, the donor countries are not ready to release cash to a government that considered corrupt at every level and seem to have turned off the sympathy tap.

The funds should be given through international agencies what are working the areas and raised the alarm.

As a matter of greatest importance the government must systematize itself significantly in good condition, curtail dishonesty and do what it was elected to do so – serve the masses.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=3403

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Nov 13 2011. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry