Famine claims three more lives in Thar
Undernourishment has claimed more than 165 lives of children so far.
THARPARKAR (Dunya News) – Three more children lost their lives on Sunday in famine-struck Thar.
Three-days-old child of Chaman, two-days-old of Photo Meghwar and newborn of Chandar died in Mithi hospital.
Diseased children are continuously being admitted into Mithi and other district hospital from various areas.
More than 2,000 bags of wheat to help relieve Tharparkar’s famine-hit families reportedly are sitting in government’s warehouses when death toll is escalating with every passing day.
The Chief Minister had announced the relief package in light of deaths in Tharparkar due to malnourishment. Atleast 81 children are under treatment in Civil hospital Mithi and Chachro Talqa Hospital.
Undernourishment has claimed more than 165 lives of children so far.
Also Read: Thar families deprived of wheat bags announced by govt
Earlier in the week it was reported that Thar locals have started migrating to other areas after running out of fodder for cattle, their only source of income.
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.
