Seminar sounds alarm on suffering of flood affectees

KARACHI:

Human rights crusaders, environmental activists, legislators, lawyers, and academic scholars on Tuesday sounded the alarm about the suffering of communities still grappling with the aftermath of the 2022 floods in Sindh. While speaking at a seminar on Tuesday, they stressed the need to protect the rights of marginalised communities who continue to face the relentless impacts of climate change.

The seminar was organised in connection with International Human Rights Day jointly by the Centre for Law, Justice, and Policy, Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Denning Law School.

Experts highlighted the continuing struggles of Sindh's residents, especially those displaced and affected by the catastrophic floods, which occurred over two years ago. Despite ongoing rehabilitation efforts, many flood victims continue to live in precarious conditions. Rajvir Singh Sodha, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Human Rights, said that the provincial government is working to protect inheritance rights and provide relief for displaced families. He also pointed out ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in rural areas and called for research into the alarming number of lightning-related deaths in Thar desert, as well as the challenges faced by communities in accessing water sources.