SC rebukes Sindh for not taking anti-famine steps

Asks for report on future planning to address such crises in the area.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Monday sought explanation from the Sindh chief secretary for not taking steps after the United Nations warned about a possible drought in Tharparkar five years ago.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani – also directed the Sindh health secretary, Iqbal Durrani, to submit details of the people who were provided food and healthcare facilities in the drought-hit district. It also asked for a report within two days on future planning to address such crises in the area.

The bench was hearing a suo motu case regarding the death of 60 children in Tharparkar within the last three months.

During the hearing, Durrani admitted that malnutrition was one of the big problems in Sindh and the situation was at its worst in Tharparkar. Quoting a survey, he said 259,000 households were severely affected by the drought while 73,000 bags of wheat had been sent to the region.



“According to a report of Tharparkar’s deputy commissioner, 60,000 bags have been distributed and another 13,000 will be distributed this week,” he informed the court.

The health secretary admitted negligence on part of doctors and said that show-cause notices have been issued to 425 doctors.

“Out of 44 union councils, 20 have been screened, wherein kids below two years of age and pregnant women are facing malnutrition,” he said, adding that the provincial government was planning to distribute therapeutic food with the help of Food and Agriculture Organisation.

He told the court that around 100 water plants have been set up in the affected areas; while NGOs and army officials have been providing relief to one million nomadic people in the district.  “However, relief activities are affected due to lack of proper transportation,” he added.

Appearing before the court, Sindh’s Advocate General Fateh Muhammad Malik said the provincial government expressed regret over the human tragedy and the chief minister and government functionaries were making efforts to address the problem.

The chief justice observed that while the court had not mentioned any name, it was severe negligence on the part of the civil administration. The court was adjourned till March 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.