Karachi playing host to 29,000 IDPs

The city govt is presently hosting 29,147 flood survivors in 23 relief camps while six other camps are being set up.

KARACHI: Despite straining resources, the city government is taking care of over 29,000 floods survivors, said Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman during his visit to the relief camps across the city on Sunday night

Terming relief efforts as ‘excellent’, he said All IDPs have been provided with accommodation, food and health care facilities, he said, adding that doctors and paramedical staff were deputed in the first aid centres at each relief camp in the city.

“We are also trying to give them new clothes, shoes and crockery on Eidul Fitr,” the administrator said, adding that the city government has made preparations to set up more camps if needed.

The city government is presently hosting 29,147 flood survivors in 23 relief camps while six other camps are being set up to use in emergencies.

Besides the camps marked on the map, there are also some relief setups in Surjani and Manghopir.

School for floor survivors

Children at the relief camp in Gadap Town have a chance to resume their education. The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), in collaboration with the Surhan Welfare Association, started a temporary primary school for providing education to children of the flood survivors settled at the relief camp at the Labour Complex, Gadap Town.

Adviser to Chief Minister Sharmila Farooqui inaugurated the primary school, which comprises three shops in the complex. There are an estimated 2,000 children in the camp who have been wiling away time since they got here from different parts of flood-affected Sindh.

On the first day of the school, 350 children, both girls and boys, were registered at the school by volunteers of Piler and Surhan Welfare Association. All students are being provided with textbooks, notebooks and essential stationery items.

Piler’s Joint Director Zulfiqar Shah and Dr Kamal Jamro of the welfare association briefed the minister about civil society’s contribution in relief activities. Piler has installed two 1,200-gallon water tanks, attached with motor and water filters, at the camp for providing safe drinking water to IDPs.

The organisation is also setting up a medical camp in collaboration with the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA). Doctors and specialists will be posted at the camp to offer consultations to patients. Medicines and minor operations will also be made available there.

With additional input from PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2010.