Death toll in Tharparkar mounts to 130
Dearth sustains as Ministry of Health fails to form relief teams.
THARPARKAR (Dunya News) – At least four children died on Thursday as famine continues to plague life in Thar ascending the death toll to 130 in 57 days.
A one and a half year old Rabdino in Bacho Jauter village in Chachro and a two-day old infant in Hauti Jauter village of Islam Kot passed away whereas one-month old girl died at a hospital in Chachro.
Dearth sustains in far flung areas of Tharparkar while Ministry of Health has not yet set up any relief teams.
Earlier, famine continued to harass humanity in Thar engulfing 123 innocent lives in a span of 56 days whereas three children were transferred to Hyderabad in the wake of their critical condition.
Defunct tube wells added to the misery of the dearth struck people of Thar while the government rests in deep slumber.
No medicine or pure water has yet been made available which has worsened the situation. Scarcity of adequate supply of medicine and water is prevalent in Chachro and its whereabouts that is continuously putting lives at stake.
People living in hundreds of villages in Thar are lacking basic facilities including clean water and food whereas government has also failed to distribute wheat among famine affectees.
Those waiting for relief activities, food items and medicines in Chachru have given up their patience and staged a protest against government by burning tyres and raising slogans.
They further accused government of selling wheat packs that have been sent for Thar victims.
Moreover, children and women were also among those protested and demanded to take action for the prevention of further deaths.
On November 26, report pertaining to the deaths in Thar was submitted in the Sindh High Court (SHC) while the court ordered provincial and federal government to submit its response.
SHC heard the suo moto notice of the continued deaths of children in Thar where Session Judge Umer Kot submitted his report in regard to Thar situation while the apex court ordered federal government to submit their detailed report till December 4.
According to the report submitted, 272 children have died of dearth in Thar since January.
Favored dealers were given the tenders in Khipro whereas the drinking water was wasted and was not provided to the people of Thar.
300 sacks of wheat were adulterated with mud while district hospital in Tharparkar stocked expired medicines.
Chief Secretary Karachi had admitted to 240 deaths in his report whereas 154 children were report dead as per the report presented by Session Judge Mithi.
Majority of the children who died were under 5 years of age whereas 18 out 28 health centers were defunct.
The report further denotes that 271 vacancies for doctors were unfilled.
The court dismissed the provincial government’s report and ordered federal government to submit a detailed report till December 4.
Chief Justice warned to pass a judgment in case the report does not get submitted by the said date.
