While this winter is predicted to be severe in southern Sindh due to standing water following August’s devastating monsoon flood in the region, thousands of homeless citizens are still awaiting assistance.
The flood-hit districts of the province, including Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Badin, are braving the cold under the open sky with floodwater submerging the localities, despite the district governments’ claims that the displaced people have returned to their native areas.
Due to the chilly weather, the rate of evaporation has decreased and many districts give the appearance of lakes with up to five feet deep stagnant floodwater.
Those who did return to their native places have nothing to get back to their normal life, and even though government authorities claim they have done a lot for the survivors’ rehabilitation, the truth is quite the opposite.
“Though international donor agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the government responded well to some extent during the rescue and relief operations, when rehabilitation started, everyone disappeared, abandoning thousands of people in need,” said Ali Akbar Rahimoon, the Chairman of Umerkot-based Association for Water, Applied Education and Renewable Energy.
Followed by floods, Rahimoon said, acute shortage of potable water, medicine and toilets in the flood-hit areas and relief camps has worsened the situation.
“If NGOs, international donors and government authorities do not help the flood-affected people, another disaster will hit these areas, as winter has started and majority of these people have no shelter at all. Moreover, donor agencies, NGOs and the government have yet to distribute blankets among the survivors. These people, especially children and the elderly, are at high risk of developing acute respiratory infection, which could open a new chapter of sufferings for them,” he added.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, around 9 million people in Sindh have been affected by flood; 462 people have been killed; 538,637 houses have been completely destroyed; and over 900,000 dwellings have been damaged.
