Two starve to death in Dadu relief camp

DADU: A 40-year-old woman, Shehrbano, and a 60-year-old man, Shahnawaz, died of hunger in a relief camp in Mehar tehsil, Dadu.

According to the victims’ families, all supplies, including food, to the relief camp set up in Monotechnical College, Dadu have stopped. Flood survivors still living in the camp have resorted to begging to get a day’s meal.

They demanded immediate help from the government. Situation in other relief camps around the city is also looking bleak, survivors have reported. At present, there are around 20,000 flood-affected people seeking refuge in Mehar city. Living conditions in camps has deteriorated while ration distribution has dwindled severely.

Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Shah said the two people who died in Dadu may have died of an illness instead of starvation.

Talking to the media on Sunday, he said that no matter how many goods are provided to flood survivors, they feel it is not enough and of low quality.

“Flood survivors deny getting anything even after the distribution of a truck loaded with relief goods,” he said.

Meanwhile, chief minister’s adviser on information Sharmila Farooqui reiterated that the two persons who died were old and unwell.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2010.