President to keep a vigil on flood relief work

Special control room set up in Bilawal House to supervise relief efforts.

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated on Monday a special control room at the Bilawal House to monitor flood relief activities.

The control room has direct access to all district coordination officers and the president will be able to hold video conferences with provincial government officials to monitor flood relief progress at any given time. “I will be monitoring the monitors,” the president said.

Earlier, the president convened a meeting on the Sindh flood situation, where Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and National Assembly Speaker Fehimda Mirza made presentations and suggested proposals.

The president directed senior government officials to supervise and coordinate distribution of relief and rehabilitation aid received from the government, international agencies and local and foreign NGOs and philanthropists. Fifteen senior provincial government officers were designated to the most-affected districts in Sindh for this purpose.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the president planned to stay in Karachi for some days to monitor flood relief measures, adding that helicopters and boats may be leased from other countries if needed to ensure uninterrupted relief work.

On the ground

Meanwhile, 16 flood-affected people, including five children and three women, died of gastroenteritis and malaria in Sindh on Monday, while a fumigation campaign to curtail waterborne diseases has yet to be started due to stagnant water in many areas of upper and lower Sindh. Hundreds of patients have been admitted to hospitals, which are experiencing shortage of medical supplies.

The Pakistan Army has started special helicopter service to supply food and medicine to trapped families. Many areas, including Sanghar, Mitari, Pangrio, Malkani Sharif, Jhuddo, Nokot, Tando Jan Muhammad and Mithi, are still inundated. Many important government offices are flooded in Sanghar and Matiari.

Meanwhile, life in Badin and Nawabshah has returned to normal.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th,  2011.