Two more infants die of malnutrition in Thar

MITHI: The death toll of children dying from malnutrition rose to 333 this year as two more infants died in the drought-hit Thar region of Sindh on Saturday. The government's relief measures seem insufficient and people need more wheat, essential food items and drinking water facilities.

A 15-month-old boy, Dileep, son of Raman Bheel and resident of village Jagari, along with a two-day-old boy, son of Fateh Ali Lashari, died of malnutrition and diseases at Mithi Civil Hospital.

While the drought in Thar has adversely affected all Tharis, with the loss of grassy lands and water scarcity, the children have been the worst affected. Due to food insecurity and poverty, cases of malnutrition and diseases are on the rise.

The drought is being attributed to climate change which is a global issue. Efforts to overcome the challenges of rising global temperatures need to be made through enacting legislation, setting standards and developing and implementing policies for a secure and lively environment. The existing and proposed measures being taken by the government are not enough to address the problems of Thar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2019.