Climate stressed: Relief efforts continue in Thar

NDMA is acting as the focal institute for all relief efforts.

KARACHI: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) along with various agencies are providing relief to famine-hit people of Thar, reported Radio Pakistan.

The NDMA, which is coordinating the relief efforts from government and non-government organisations, is focusing on food, water, health and livestock.

Depositories have been established at various places in all UCs to provide medical and food assistance and are being channeled through composite teams.

The organisation said on Wednesday that 1,404.63 tonnes of wheat bags, 1,277.9 tonnes of food packs, 1,151 tonnes of rice, 140,000 mineral water bottles, 15,000 packets of biscuits and 5,000 packets of high energy biscuits have reached the area while other utilities are enroute to the affected area.

Relief Commisioner Punjab Nadeem Ashraf said that around 70,000 kilogrammes of rice, 40,000 bottles of mineral water and 20,000 food packets have been dispatched to the area so far.

Governor Punjab too has sent two trucks loaded with relief items to the affected area.

In Balochistan, on the directives of Chief Minister Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch a donation cell has been established and four trucks carrying relief material have been sent by the Home Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti to the affected area.

Sindh Government has issued Rs30 million to Mithi district hospital for medical utilities.

A contingent of 40 paramedical staff from Hyderabad carrying medicines has also reached the affected area.

Furthermore, Army has established six medical camps with eight doctors including three lady doctors and three child specialists at Diplo, Chachoro, Mithi, Nagarparkar, Khinser and Islamkot.

The army had also sacrificed a day of its rations for the famine affected people of Thar. The ration will amount to supplies for 15 days for the affectees.

Meanwhile, the agriculture department has provided fodder on emergency basis for cattle in the region, dispatching 600 bags of fodder.

Veterinary teams are working in coordination with the agriculture department to vaccinate over 8,000 animals.

Previously, Prime Minister of Pakistan had announced Rs1 billion as relief assistance and directed that the provincial effort of food assistance be increased through stipulation of 97,000 food packets. NDMA worked on this aspect and has dispatched 10,000 food packets to the affected area.

Assistance from UAE

In the wake of crisis, UAE president President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has dispatched medical and food utilities to the famine affected Tharparkar.

The announcement was made by the Dubai Media Office in a  tweet.

#UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan orders immediate dispatch of food & medical aid to famine victims in Pakistan

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 12, 2014