GENERAL APPEAL (Pakistan): Thousands of peasants suffered through negligence of Sindh government

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has received information that through the negligence of the Ministry of Irrigation of the Sindh province a breach in a river occurred which resulted in heavy losses to peasants, including damage to standing crops, houses, roads, bridges, water courses, and embankments. The breaches inundated many villages nearby and caused extensive damage to houses in the vicinity. The floods have affected 90% of the populations of 50 villages involving over 19000 persons. Over 300 houses have been destroyed completely and their former inhabitants are camping out side the villages and on elevated embankments with very minimal shelter. Up to 720 houses sustained repairable damage and over 60% of these are unsafe for habitation without such repairs. The total damage to housing in the district has been estimated to be at a cost of Rs. 30 million (US$400, 000) and 5000 acres of cultivated land has been inundated. The crops lost included both commercial and food staples including rice. The ministry of irrigation who is responsible for checking the stability of the canal embankments on a regular basis has still not provided any assistance to the affected people. This is the third time in ten years that breaches have occurred in this area.

CASE DETAILS:

A 200 feet breach appeared in the Rohri Canal at Tehsil, New Saeedabad, District Matiari, Sindh province, which is the biggest water channel of the country [Photo]. The heavy flow of water resulted in flooding of low-lying areas and the destruction of standing crops and settlements, and also a main channel of Indus Basin Irrigation System. Government Authorities blocked the breach after three days but, as yet, no assistance has been given to the affected people. According to the information received by Socio Economic Development Association (SEDA), it was early morning of July 5, 2008, at 6:00 AM that the breach occurred and within two hours it has grown to a length of 200 feet. The water continued to flow unabated for three days until it was stopped by irrigation authorities with the efforts of the local people. However, before that happened thousands of acres and more than 50 villages were inundated. The total estimated loss was: 50 villages with 19,000 people directly affected and uprooted, 20 live stock (which are a source of livelihood for several persons), 2500 houses inundated among them 300 houses (huts) completely destroyed and 750 damaged, poultry belonging to the local farmers along with two poultry farms. The crops destroyed included cotton, rice and vegetables, banana and oil seeds. It is also estimated by the data was collected from the Government officials, including Mukhtiarkar Revenue and others, that approximately 2000 tons of wheat grain and several schools boys were badly damaged. Among them two schools were swept away by flood water.

The government of Sindh particularly, ministry of irrigation is totally indifferent to the situation which has destroyed the means by which the rural folks were able to house, clothe and feed their families. Nor has the ministry even issued a statement to reassure the farmers that action will be taken to assist them. There is severe disruption in communication as roads have been completely cut off in many places and because of the inundation; communications with other villages and the cities is a major problem. In large parts of the areas the electricity supply has been badly affected and drinking water has been contaminated. People belonging to backward and marginalized sections are the worst off having no fallback or resources. The living conditions in the affected areas are appalling and people are not being provided basic necessities. It is essential for their survival and recovery that timely and precise rehabilitation is provided.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The average water discharge from Sukkur Barrage, Sindh province into Rohri Canal is 6,000 cusecs (11901 Acre Foot/day). It cultivates 1045145 ha of land of four districts of Sindh. The area in question is recognized for both its fertile soil and dense population – a combination that can deceive people who are not familiar with the area. The villages in the region could remain inundated for months and many of the – mostly mud, and straw – houses that survive the initial onslaught, also succumb due to exposure. This is the third time over a period of 10 years that the breached hit these houses. Thus these houses are literally rebuilt each time and the villagers remain in the cycle of poverty year after year. The impact of the flood on the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society have primarily been the disruption of gainful employment and loss of food commodities due to the inundation. While food is available the poor lack purchasing power to access it. Consequently thousands of people are faced with hunger and deprivation. Livelihoods: Most of the people of area depend on agriculture. Standing crops on 5000 acres in rain -hit areas especially cotton, rice and vegetables have been totally destroyed. The livestock owners lost such crops, which they use as fodder for their animals in emergency like situation.

Shelter: The destruction/damage to houses due to the flood and consequent deprivation of the affected population to higher ground has exposed them to the vagaries of nature. It is absolutely necessary for people to have some shelter to keep themselves and their belongings safe.

Drinking Water: The flood has destroyed the sources of safe drinking water and the people also lost their water storage facilities. The non-availability of safe drinking water has brought many problems for women and children. The morbidity rate among this population is quite higher particularly among the elderly, women and children. The general health of the local communities is declining with rising malnutrition levels due to the poor diet on which the most of the people subsist.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities named below expressing your concern about the indifferent attitude of the Sindh provincial government towards the poor villagers and peasants who were displaced by the breach of a canal which resulted in heavy economic losses to them. Please also urge the authorities that affected people should be rehabilitated immediately, they should be provided full compensation for their losses. The concerned authorities of the ministry of irrigation should be brought before the law for their negligence to protect the embankments of the irrigation channels.

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