JACOBABAD: Almost 95 per cent of Jacobabad district is under water and it will take weeks to drain it.
“We haven’t reached all the areas of the district yet,” an official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “The situation is difficult to describe - it’s worse than when the floods hit Jacobabad in 2010. Back then the water just rushed through the area. But this time around, the entire district has been inundated.”
The district government has six helicopters which it uses to drop rations in various areas and rescue marooned people. “We have boats that can be used to access areas where the rainwater is particularly deep. The water is everywhere - an aerial survey will clearly reveal the dire situation in the district,” said the official.
He added that relief camps have been set up and food was being given to the people, but he did not comment on when the district’s administration will drain rainwater. The army is working round-the-clock to rescue people, said the official.
Seven children died on Sunday because of diseases and malnutrition in Thull taluka. A three-year-old girl, Rani, died in Khan Muhammad Soomro village and a seven-year-old boy, Zahoor Ahmed Noonari, died in Yar Ali Pahor. “Our village is completely submerged and there has been nothing for our children to eat for the past three days,” said Majnoon Faqeer, Rani’s father. The people of the area also lamented the lack of medical facilities for children.
A three-year-old-boy, Wahid Khoso, Beebal Khoso, 5, and Noor Hasan Khoso, 8, died of gastroenteritis in Ameer Bux Khoso village near Thull taluka. Their parents said that about 40 other children in the village were suffering from fever and diarrhea. They added that no medical team has visited their village. The roof of a house in Khabar Channo village collapsed, killing two children, including Nadeem, 3, and Shabnam, 5. “About 2,400 people, including children, have visited the Thull taluka hospital in the last three days,” said Dr Amanullah Khoso.
Some attempts by villagers to drain the water ignited a clash as one tribe tried to draw off the water to the turf of another. Three people have been injured in Muhammad Malook Sarki village when the Khosa and Sarki tribes tried to create a path through the road so that the rainwater could be drained from the area. Members of the Buriro tribe brawled with them, contending that the water would flow into their area.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2012.
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Don't worry government. The people never agitate on these issues. They are all busy with a ten minute blasphemy film uploaded by an unknown person.