Flood victims resort to begging

QUETTA: After losing their homes and property, flood survivors are facing hardships in earning a livelihood. “My children are suffering from diseases and I need money to visit a doctor,” said 50-year-old Qadir Baksh at Sadiq Shaheed Park Quetta where at least 15 families are taking shelter. He said his one-year-old boy Asif and Waseem, 5, are ill and both of them need a proper medical checkup.

The survivors told The Express Tribune that they were waiting for the local administration to either take them to relief camps or to provide them with food rations and medical assistance. The affected people had come from Ghot Mithal Khan of Thul tehsil in Jacobabad seven days back. They said that the flood had spared nothing there.

“Please help us. Our women and children are hungry. We usually go to the mosque for Iftar and bring back some food for Sehri,” said Mohammad Mithal, a survivor, adding that they didn’t know where to go for the relief.

A large number of flood victims in Saryab, Western Bypass live in the open. “I have come here in a trailer and now want to work to earn a livelihood,” said Hassina Bibi, who was sitting at a footpath on Saryab Road. She along with her daughter-in-law and three children were compelled to live in the open. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “I have become a beggar and have no place to go hide my head.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, Minister Rahila Durrani has said that a large number of children are suffering from different diseases and there is a scarcity of doctors in Quetta.

“I have visited Killi Ismail where three thousand people are taking shelter and living a terrible life,” she said, adding that she has announced Rs10 million immediately for the affected people.

Responding to a question, she said she would take up the issue with the chief secretary and also appealed to philanthropists to come forward and help the affected.

However, Commissioner Quetta Division, Naseem Lehri seems to be satisfied with the flow of flood survivors. “We have set up three tent villages in the eastern bypass in the first phase and in the second phase the administration will establish three more tent villages.”

Referring to those affected and living in the open, Lehri said, “Officials are busy trying to locate the people scattered in different parts of the city. If there are 200,000 people, it will not be a burden, we will be able to manage it.”

He said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and different NGOs are supporting the local administration to help overcome the issue. He said there are medical care facilities and teams of doctors in relief camps. For the time being, he said, around 300 flood survivors are in relief camps set up by the administration.

Despite the local administration and NGOs in Quetta denying it, a great number of survivors are facing many problems. The flood victims can be seen on footpaths begging for food.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2010.