A network of civil society organisations in Tharparkar district, Maroo’ara Tharparkar, in Thursday complained that measures taken so far by the Pakistan People’s Party-led provincial government to address the miseries of recent rain-affected people are not satisfactory.
In a statement issued Thursday, office bearers Obhayo Junejo, Arbab Khalid Mehmood, Bharoomal Amrnai and Ali Akbar Rahimoo criticised the role of authorities concerned in addressing the miseries of rain-affected people of Thar.
“Only six union councils (UCs) have been declared ‘calamity-hit’; whereas all UCs of Tharparkar have been partially affected. The district government has conducted no survey on damages due to heavy rains and should compensate the losses,” they stated.
“In Deh Phant and Deh Bhitaro of UC Bhitaro, and Deh Kharak and Uth Daho of UC Kaloi in Taluka Diplo have been inundated and 40 villages submerged. The villagers are living on the roadsides in miserable conditions. Not a single measure has been taken by government or any non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address the issues being faced by the inhabitants of these areas.
“There is immediate need to take notice. These are adjoining areas of Badin district and the major causes of losses are breaches in Left Bank Outfall Drain feeding channels, so CSOs of Thar urge all international financial institutions, NGOs and other donor agencies to take notice.
“Livestock has died as a result of continues rains; while diseases are also spreading in goats and camels. The assets of rain-hit people, including grains, have been lost in the heavy rains. Farmers are also facing issues of seed unavailability. There is need to initiate a support scheme for farmers so that they may be able to cultivate land.
“In Tharparkar, road network and culverts have been damaged. Still some roads, including Kaloi- Khetlari, Bhukrio-Diplo, Diplo-Naukot and Mithi-Kaloi are damaged and these areas are disconnected from the rest of the district. The government should take steps on priority basis for the repair of these roads.
Moreover, the statement went on to add that unhygienic conditions and unsafe drinking water are spreading diseases, such as skin infections, diarrhoea and malaria, among the inhabitants and sizeable measures should be taken to address the health issues.
The civil society stated that Tharparkar district is a disaster prone area but no disaster management plan has been ensured by the government. Because of this inhabitants of Thar face hardships in case of drought, cyclone or heavy rains.
They further demanded that a ‘district disaster management authority’ be established to plan, monitor and report the disasters while funds be allocated in the annual budget of the district.
