Malala visits flood-ravaged areas of Sindh, emphasises schooling for affected children

Nobel Peace laureate visits tent city of Chandan in Johi, interacts with flood affectees

DADU:

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai reached the flood-affected area of Chandan in Johi area of Dadu district on Wednesday during the second day of her visit to Pakistan.

Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho and Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah accompanied Malala. They were also joined by musician and activist Shehzad Roy, founder of the Zindagi Trust.

Appreciating the Nobel Peace laureate's initiative, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed hope that “with Malala’s visit, the voice of humanitarian crisis in Sindh will be heard internationally”.

Malala, also the UN Messenger of Peace, visited the tent city that has been set up in the area by the government to provide shelter to the flood victims.

During the visit, she interacted with the affectees and, in particular, expressed concern about children’s education being affected by the natural disaster.

Read UNICEF sets up learning centres in flood zone

“Education of 2 million children in 12,000 schools has been affected,” informed the health minister as he noted that “several areas are still submerged under water”.

“Further survey will be done to assess the damage caused to schools after flood water is drained,” he added.

Malala, while interacting with the women in a camp listened to the difficulties they faced and offered words of encouragement.

“You are brave women,” she said, “you are facing difficult times”.

The Nobel laureate arrived in her native country a day earlier to meet flood victims.

Her visit -- only the second since she was flown to Britain for a life-saving treatment following a terrorist attack -- comes as thousands of people protested in her hometown, where the same militant group is once again on the rise.