Chowrangi

Very tragically, flood-hit areas in Sindh and Balochistan are experiencing the a painful apathy from government and civil society. An amount of Rs. 15,000 per family, announced by President General Musharraf as compensation for the flood-affected people, is not enough even to meet the basic needs. Everyone has showed an indifference towards the flood victims in the vast areas.

The international NGOs and UN has not been allowed to operate in Balochistan, where even the power supply hasnt been restored yet in many areas. The Mirani dam has also developed various cracks after the recent torrential rains and floods. The suffering of only the Balochistan province is round about Rs. 70 to 80 billion. There are no alternative arrangements whatsoever to meet the exigency.

The agriculture sector in both the provinces has been destroyed and hundreds of tube-wells washed away and devastated beyond repair. One is at loss to understand as to why NGOs from other countries were not being allowed to help the victims at this critical juncture. It is quite understandable that why the flood victims and their relatives are sheerly outraged by an indifferent central and provincial government and their angry reaction is natural.

There seems to be no national campagin which would raise the awareness among the people in Punjab, NWFP and in big cities of Sindh that their brethren are suffering in the parts of Balochistan and Sindh. This is also very strange to find that many are still unaware of the wide scale at which this catastrophe has occurred.

Its high time that the massive and agile relief operation should be initiated to first lessen the suffering of the affected people, and the a disciplined programme should be started for their rehabilitation. With the help and facilitation of the national civil society and the international community this could be done in weeks.

Other posts by Commoner

• Toadies of Dictator - August 20th, 2008
• Promise of Judiciary - August 20th, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf: A Dictator Departs - August 18th, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf Highlights - August 18th, 2008
• US Chuck Mush - August 18th, 2008
• Charge Ahead - August 17th, 2008
• Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Supports Musharraf's Safe Passage - August 17th, 2008
• Musharraf's Wings Dried Up - August 16th, 2008
• Safe Passage for Musharraf - August 15th, 2008
• Tension Haywire in FATA - August 15th, 2008