Mapping relief efforts across South Punjab

The relief efforts so far have not been able to at par with the catastrophe in the southern districts of the province.

Though the magnitude of the devastation caused by the flood in the southern districts of the province has been huge, the relief efforts so far have not been able to at par with the catastrophe.

Rahim Yar Khan:

Chaudary Muhammad Aslam, the district officer (coordination), told The Express Tribune that more than 121,000 people have so far been displaced in Rahim Yar Khan.

To accommodate these and other flood victims from the surrounding areas, there are a total of 26 relief camps in the Rahim Yar Khan district. These camps comprise 681 tents – 400 have been put up closer to the river bank while 281 have been put up near Chowk Bahadurpur.

Talking to the media on Thursday, Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed, the Bahawalpur Commissioner, said that about 28,000 people belonging to the Rahim Yar Khan district have been shifted to safe places. The commissioner said that 22 trucks loaded with relief goods have been sent to these camps, from the Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur.

Muhammad Aslam confirmed that eight people had died and 70 injured so far. The flood damage encompassing 125 mozas has affected 175,000 acres of agricultural land (of which 115,000 was cultivated). About 190 domesticated animals have died due to the flood in the district.

Talking about the Pakistan Army’s relief efforts in the district, Major Farooq said that about 2,000 personnel of the army, equipped with 65 boats, were working to move the affected population to safer areas. He said that the army has set up four food collection points ( one each in Chachra Sharif, Ahsanpur, Bangla Icha and Samitra Basti)  and three medical camps in the district.

Multan:

A total of 5,654 flood victims – 1,270 men, 1,813 women and 2,571 children – are have been accommodated in the 22 relief camps in Multan district, Javed Mahmood Bhatti, the executive district officer (community development), said. He said that about 80 donation points have been set up in the district by the government, army and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

About 64 medical officers and 400 paramedical staff is working to provide medical relief to the flood victims in the district. Besides, the Nishar Hospital’s emergency department has been put on high alert. Dr Akbar Saeed, the emergency ward director, said that uptill now five flood affected people have been admitted to the ward. Three belong to Muzaffargarh and two to Jalalpur Peerwala, he added.

Muzaffargarh:

The district government, Pakistan Army and private organisations such as Al-Khidmat Foundation, Jamatud Dawa and Main Jamia Masjid have set up relief camps in the district. The district government had six camps, of which two in Boys High School, Baseera, and Kot Addu Highr Secondary School, had to be closed due to flood water.Pakistan Army has two camps in Sultan Colony and Sarwar Shahid Chowk, Al-Khidmat Foundation has 10 relief camps, Jammatud Dawa has one at Jhand mor Chowk and Jamia Masjid has two in the Walled City.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2010.