The reality of relief camps

Flood affected people at five relief camps in Sadiqbad protested in front of the local administration over the unavailability of food items.

Relief camps at Fazil Wah, Meray Shah Mor, Ahmed Pur Lama and the Sadiqbad bypass – where around 6,000 flood victims have been registered – are currently short on basic food supplies. Arbab Ali, Kamil Khan, Mai Khatoon, Kamil Mai, Qutubbuddin at the camps said that the administration had failed in providing them with food or fodder for their livestock.

They said that the police deployed at these locations had baton charged people when they complained and called out for food.

“When the trucks come bearing food, a crowd of hundreds gathers around the truck because the people are starving. The police often beat us off with sticks,” said Arbab Ali.

“There are people dying because they haven’t had a morsel of food pass by their lips in three or four days. We take what we can get and however we can get it,” said Mai Khatoon.  Locals have appealed to the Punjab chief minister to ensure sufficient food supply to the districts.

Multan:

After the government declared that the Muzaffargarh district was protected from floods, hundreds of flood victims have now begun leaving the relief camps for their villages.  On Sunday, nearly 300 people from Muzaffargarh and nearby villages left for their houses from relief camps that were set up in various schools. “Most people are still reluctant to move back, so we will tell them about the situation once we have seen it for ourselves,” said Shah Inayat, a local. Inayat said that he and several others were planning to head back to their village and inspect the damage before taking their families back with them.

Relief workers at a camp set up in the Government Elementary School in Tibbi Sher Khan said that only 46 people had left for their homes from the camp. “Hundreds are still here as they are unsure about the damage back home,” said Shazia Khan, a volunteer, adding that around 300 people had left to inspect the damage to their homes. “When they report back their families will accompany them,” she said.

Khan Garh:

In Khan Garh and adjacent areas thousands of people were rendered homeless as the flood waters rose around them. Locals have taken shelter in relief camps, where the people protested against unavailability of food and other facilities.

The government and local philanthropists are doing their best to provide relief to the people but much more needs to be done. “I have personally spent the last week distributing all food every day but I know it is not enough,” said local philanthropist Chaudhry Bilal Anwar, adding that others needed to join in the relief efforts and contribute as much as they can.  On Sunday evening, rice and flour was distributed among the affectees and several brawls broke out between starving people as they fought over the food.

Meanwhile, River Chenab’s water has entered three more villages in Jalalpur Pirwala. These villages include Shujaat Pur, Sohana Sundela and Sheikh Ismail. Head Tremo water has also entered River Chenab, Multan and Shujaabad’s villages. No relief goods have been dispatched to the flood victims in these areas. Crops in Jalalpur Pirwala have been affected and the Nadol village is surrounded by water and thousands of people are presently waiting for relief goods. Locals said that a breach in the Mala Wali dyke was causing the water flow to be directed towards Alipur.

Rajanpur:

The flood torrent is wreaking havoc in Jampur, Mithun Kot and Rojhan once again. Patients are facing difficulties after water entered the local Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

The 600-year-old graveyard of the family of Jampur city’s founder Malik Jadim has also been inundated. Head Punjnad water is now entering River Chenab and water levels have increased to 1100,000 cusecs. On the other hand, due to rains Koh Suleman Rojhan’s villages Sehlani, Surgani, Nazar Muhammad and Sawal have been completely destroyed.

Khanpur:

Flooding in southern Punjab has also led to the spread of several diseases in Khanpur.

Health experts have said that the population of warble flies and mosquitoes is also on the rise in the district. “A large number of animals have died of disease but the Livestock Department and administration are nowhere to be seen,” said Tehrik Minhajul Quran district head Dr Muhammad Ilyas, while addressing a press conference at the Khanpur press club. Ilyas said that animals worth millions of rupees were likely to die if the situation was not controlled.

“There is an equal threat for humans and livestock,” Ilyas said, adding that the mosquito’s attacked human beings and the warble fly attacked sheep and goats.  “Gastroenteritis and cholera are not the only threats to the flood victims, dangerous diseases like liver flu, arthritis are also on the rise. Health officials seem unable to deal with the spreading epidemic,” he said.  Ilyas appealed to the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to provide bug sprays for the flood victims. He also demanded that the Khanpur area be declared an affected zone.

Rahim Yar Khan:

A dyke constructed to help save the national highway was broken by administration.

Road traffic between Sindh and Punjab has been closed for light vehicles and heavy traffic is allowed to pass the area under the supervision of army personnel and the motorway police. Long queues of vehicles can now be seen on both sides of the road.

According to details, the local administration created a breach in the dyke in order to lessen water pressure after which water inundated the other side of the road as well. Traffic has also been affected and according to the Motorway Police, the road has been closed. Traffic coming from Sindh and Punjab will be allowed to pass alternately. However, due to temporary closure of the road long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides. Motorway Police said the breach will be filled once the water pressure lessens.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2010.