Death toll rises to 31 in famine-hit Tharparkar
114 dysfunctional tube wells have worsened the dearth of water in Chachhro and Dhali.
THAR (Dunya News) – Famine continues to strike humanity in Thar taking away 31 innocent lives in the month of October whereas water shortage has worsened as 114 tube wells in Chachhro and Dhali have become dysfunctional, Dunya News reported.
According to the sources, 2 out of 30 malnourished children brought to the Civil Hospital Mithi have been shifted to Hyderabad whereas 2 more have been declared critical.
In addition to this the dispensaries in the far flung areas of Tharparkar have also been closed in the suburbs. People therefore have to travel miles to reach cities for treatment.
The ones alive, on the other hand, are suffering through scarcity of water. 114 tube wells in Chachhro and Dhali have become dysfunctional whereas tools of more than 75 tube wells are missing.
Rs 20 million grant by the Mithi administration appears to be insufficient to solve water availability issue for the past 7 years. Locals are forced to buy water whereas water is not being provided to the caravans of migrants.
Sindh government doesn’t bat an eye over the situation while people a suffering and dying of scarcity of food and water.
Addressing the session at Sindh Assembly on Monday, chief minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah claimed that not a single child died of famine in Thar and the facilities available in hospitals of Tharparkar are no less than any of the hospitals in the province.
He urged not to criticize the government unreasonably as government is continuously helping the people of Thar.
He further said it is not easy to feed 160 thousand people affirming to have installed 80 drinking water plants in Thar and constructing a road to Islam Kot with an expense of Rs 10 billion.
Qaim Ali Shah said government has been implementing development projects which are not being showcased.
Army however has dispatched 4 contingents towards the famine struck areas whereas ration points have also been installed.
According to a press release of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR):
“Army troops have been mobilized to the draught hit areas of Tharparkar last night. 4 x companies have been moved from Karachi to help their brethren in distress in Chahro, Dali and Mithi.. 4 x ration distribution points have been established at Khinser, Chahro, Diplo and Dhunai, where 60 x ton rations has been stocked so far. 4 x medical relief camps have been established at Khinser, Chahro, Diplo and Dhunai. 2 x helicopters have been employed in the area for immediate evacuation and ration distribution. 900 x drought affected families have been provided food items and clean drinking water since morning.Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif has specially directed local formation to employ all required recourses to bring relief to the affected families. “
