Desperate for food, people loot trucks

Desperation of flood victims on plain show as police baton-charge them during the distribution of relief goods.

QUETTA: The desperation of flood victims was on plain show on Friday as police baton-charged them during the distribution of relief goods.

The provincial ministers Sadiq Umrani and Tahir Mahmmud and Commissioner Quetta Division Naseem Ahmed Lehri were distributing relief goods when a large number of people overpowered the management and started looting trucks present outside the office.

They looted relief goods and cleaned two trucks within minutes.

In retaliation, the officials resorted to a baton-charge in order to disperse them - but the effort was in vain, because those desperate for food continued their effort undeterred through the assault.

Four women fell unconscious due to a stampede during the distribution and several others suffered minor injuries.  “No measures had been taken to distribute the goods in a proper manner. There must be discipline and security,” said 70-year-old Mohammad Ismail, a flood victim who also suffered minor injuries. He said he is in dire need of food, and nothing else. “I don’t think they [the government] will provide me food because a large number of people had already assembled outside of the office,” he said.

According to official sources, the government had brought relief goods for 2,500 people, but the number of victims was well above that figure – which then resulted in a tussle.

In the ensuing free-for-all, the old men and children received nothing.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2010.