Nearly 300 children have died in Tharparkar this year: PPP
Tharparkar has seen an alarming number of children suffering pneumonia or diarrhoea due to a dangerous mix of drought, poverty and poor health infrastructure.
The deaths have prompted criticism for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs in Sindh.
A total of 496 people, 296 of them children, have died in Tharparkar this year, Taj Haider, a senior PPP official with responsibility for the Thar situation, told AFP.
Since the start of October, 48 children have died in Tharparkar, according to doctor Abdul Jalil, district health officer for Tharparkar district.
This week around 40 children, some in critical condition, are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Mithi, the nearest town to the affected area, according to humanitarian sources.
"The current situation is due to a combination of factors. Low rainfall and sheep pox exacerbated malnutrition and (there was) a lack of health care facilities," a UN official told AFP.
Life in the desert is closely tied to rain-dependent crops and animals, with farmers relying on beans, wheat and sesame seeds for survival. They barter any surplus for livestock.
There are few health care facilities in the area, and families must travel substantial distances to seek treatment.
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I can't express my feelings just have guilt that we are enjoying life where these people are striving for foods....but I have an initiative we can help them by providing them water irrigation plants so they can at least grow vegetables for themselves.
My sympathies for the neglected people of Sindh. This region also has many hindu citizen who are second class. The region is nearly 350 km from karachi, 150 km from Hyderabad Sind. Close to border with india. Can indian medical teams be allowed inside for rescue of hindu citizens on humanitarian base.
PPP respect their human rights!
People of Sindh are surely living the life of slavery.
Nearly 300 children have died in Tharparkar this year: PPP
Well at least, you have the nukes...
People are dying but Bhutto Zinda hay. #Shame
Meanwhile, PPP holds meetings in London and tries dharnas for Kashmir when they can not look after their own people. Reality unfortunately in Pakistan is each and every child, woman or elder that dies of starvation and resulting ill health, has absolutely no value for the ruling politicians. Life is cheap in Sindh. Very very sad.Such attitudes that totally lack empathy for the suffering of minorities, gender, the poor can not be sustainable. First provide for your own citizens before thinking beyond your borders. Under such circumstances, Kashmiris are probably better off considering your track records. And hope ET will publish this.
Very sad indeed... I feel like crying.. I wish our governments and leaders could have acted responsibly..
No life value of such poor people, why not govt can take serious action & sort this out, why not any govt officials went there to help them and provide necessary foods and medicine etc. A friend of mine went there by own and help them according to his capacity. Unfortunately our govt doesn’t have the courage or bother about it, this is sad, PPP is solely responsible of death of Innocents.
So what exactly has PPP done about it ? After all they had ample opportunities to improve the health & social facilities in their home state, while in Govt in recent past ! It really shows as to what kind of mandate and dynastic politics they play, while neglecting very basic requirements of its own people!