Sindh govt calls for help for distressed, displaced flood-affected people

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his emergent televised message aired live by all news channels has urged philanthropists to come forward and help rain and flood-affected people of the province.

"I have visited almost all the districts of the province and found every nook and corner inundated with rain water," he said and added that the people who have been temporarily settled at relief camps are in a state of shock after losing their near and dear ones, their cattle and other belongings.

The CM said that he along with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also visited relief camps where women and children are living with tears in their eyes. "This painful situation has poured out of our hearts," he said and added that President Asif Ali Zardari was also in touch with them to take note of the situation.

He said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is keen on visiting flood-affected areas to meet people there but the weather condition is an obstacle to his visit. "We all are trying to arrange tents, mosquito nets, beds, edibles, medicines and other things of daily use for the affected people," he said and hoped that everything would be made available within a few days.

Shah said that the riverine floods of 2010 had submerged all the cities, towns and villages on the right bank of River Indus while the flash flood of 2011 had flooded the entire left bank and in those days our road network was not so good and despite this, philanthropists had helped the homeless and displaced people.

The chief minister said: "Compared to 2010 and 2011 our road network, including link roads and farms to market roads provide easy access, therefore the philanthropists, welfare organisations and donor agencies should visit to take stock of the situation and help and support the distressed people.

Shah told the people, living in the camps along main roads and on the riverine belt that they were not alone. "Your government is reaching out to each and every one of you," he assured them.

He urged the people of the province to look after the poor, rain-affected and helpless people living around them till the government reaches out to them. "You have to bridge the gap between them and the government," he urged the affluents and remarked that everyone is living for themselves and their family but, now the time has come they have to live for those who are in dire need.

Shah said that this year the province has received around 600 per cent more rainfall than usual. "These rains have not only flooded the residential areas but have caused a high flood in River Indus."

The chief minister urged the people to support each other at this time of the test. "You have to face the situation with patience, courage and empathy," he urged and warned the hoarders not to indulge in hoarding, profiteering and artificial price hike.

He hoped that nobody should dare to create a law and order situation in the province and understand the gravity of the situation.