Still waiting: Flood survivors stage sit-in

KARACHI: “We don’t want to get plots, but we need food to survive until we can farm our lands and our houses are rebuilt,” said Rustum Burriro, a community incharge at the Razzaqabad flood camp.

Flood survivors from different districts organised a protest outside the CM House on Thursday. “We have been forced to sit in front of the CM house because we are still living in camps,” complained a protester. Women and children held photos of Benazir Bhutto and continued to protest, despite the threat of baton charge by Rangers and the police. Protester Husna Khatoon said that revenue officials ordered the police to hold raids and force survivors out of the camps.

Dozens of protesters flashed their Watan cards in anger. “The government has given me a card, but it has no cash value,” said Atta Muhammad. The Gadap Town revenue district officer said that he could not comment since he had recently taken charge. “The water has receded and people should go back. How long will the government support them,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.