Three more die in drought-hit Thar
Diseased children from affected areas are continuously arriving in the hospitals.
THARPARKAR (Dunya News) – Famine in Tharparkar claimed three more lives on Friday.
13-days-old Maryam in Civil hospital Mithi, three-months-old Mushtaq Samejo and one-year-old Sara Samejo in Chachro’s native village Maigy Jotar lost their lives in the drought-hit Thar Desert.
Atleast 81 children are under treatment in Civil hospital Mithi and Chachro Talqa Hospital.
Diseased children from affected areas are continuously arriving in the hospitals.
However; no implementation has been done regarding the announcement to provide transport for transferring sick children to the hospital.
Besides this the distribution of wheat has also not started yet.
Famine-struck people have demanded the government to announce a package for their ease as poor arrangements in hospitals and lack of basic facilities are adding to the severity of the issue.
Tharparkar is a home to more than 60 lac cattle which provide source of income to residents. However, locals have started migrating to other areas as fodder for their cattle is all consumed before the expected time.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, if the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children and women is above 15 percent, it is to be considered an emergency situation.
During the National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2011, the GAM rate in the province of Sindh is 17.5 per cent and the Severely Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is 6.6 per cent.
In 2014, the Sindh government announced establishment of Thar Development Authority to address the problem, however, the draft is still pending for approval.
