Winter to be a tough time for flood victims

Warm clothes, beddings are required in the millions to prevent a medical emergency

KARACHI:

With winter on the horizon and flood victims still far off from being rehabilitated, there is a growing concern that the cold temperature will be a threat to the lives of those currently living in tent settlements. Hence, appeals for donations of winter supplies have grown.

Flood affectees in various districts of Sindh are still living out in the open and as the mercury begins dropping, their individual pleas are fast becoming a resounding cry for help from anyone and everyone. Tanveer Ahmed, a volunteer of a group of philanthropists helping the flood victims in various districts of Sindh, said that the pleas for help should be answered at the earliest as the onset of winter could cause havoc. “While constructing houses for the victims should be a priority, right now, there is an urgent need to protect the victims from the cold weather,” he implored.

Ahmed further said that a mammoth amount of money was needed to purchase clothes and beddings in large quantities. Haji Ahmad Raza, trustee of another welfare institution, said that according to conservative estimates more than 5 million warm beddings, quilts, mattresses, pillows and clothes are required immediately.

“It would be impossible to buy such a large number of new winter material, therefore our focus is on sourcing from flea market traders,” Raza informed. However, this form of sourcing has proven to be a challenge as well due to the fluctuating dollar.

 “The prices of the second-hand winter packets have gone up by 30 to 50 percent. One packet now costs anywhere between Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000.” Naveed Ali Baig, chief executive officer of a renowned welfare organisation, concurring with Raza’s price estimates, informed that nearly every volunteer organisations focus was to distribute “cold packages to flood victims by the first week of November.” On the other hand, another volunteer working in the flood-affected areas, Imran-ul-Haq, was of the view that instead of sourcing bedding and quilts separately, perhaps volunteers could consider purchasing travel bags.

“These bags serve both as a mattress and a quilt. The cost is anywhere between Rs 800 to Rs 1,500. Most of these are produced locally, so there would be no need to rely on costly imported items,” Haq suggested. Atiq Mir, Chairman of All Karachi Trade Union, agreeing with Haq’s views, said that there was also a desperate need for the government to step in.

Mir opined that the government should appeal to the public at large for winter material donations and set up a coordinated system so that warm clothes and bedding could immediately reach flood victims before winter strengthens its grip. Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister, Waqar Mehdi, when asked whether the government would make such appeals to the public at large, replied that a government level effort was already underway. “Warm clothes, quilts, blankets and other items are being arranged at the government level to protect the flood victims of Sindh from the cold. Apart from that we also ask the public to help in anyway they can,” Mehdi requested while talking to The Express Tribune

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2022.