Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Awami Tahreek.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Press Release from Awami Tahreek, The Peoples’ Movement forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
Dear Friends,
The ongoing unprecedented sporadic rains, heavy floods and ill-planned World Bank Funded Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) have severely affected the survival and livelihood of 40 Million People of Sindh a province of Pakistan. The towns and villages have been inundated, millions have become shelter-less, thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands are waiting for a painful death. The standing crops of cotton, paddy, sugar cane, onion, tomato, chilies, and fodder have been destroyed to the tune of billions and the poor and vulnerable people of 23 Districts of Sindh, Pakistan are bearing the brunt of criminal negligence of the Provincial and Federal Governments of Sindh and Pakistan, malfunctioning and Corruption of Irrigation Department and ill-planned LBOD project. The monsoon rains in Pakistan have triggered a massive humanitarian crisis that have threatened the lives and well-being of millions of people, claiming over 2500 lives and affecting nearly 40 million people and the towns and villages of Sindh are constantly under the devastation of rains.
These rains are recorded as being the worst to ravage Sindh in last 200 years and have erased hundreds of the villages while depriving millions of their homes, belongings, savings, beloved ones and lives forever. Roads and farms are submerged in water, putting estimated relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction costs at billions of Rupees. Those entrapped and displaced are suffering acutely due to lack of boats, helicopters, ground transport, shelter, food and clean water. This is an hour we all must come together and show our wholehearted support for the rain / flood survivors. It is critical that the immediate needs such as transport, food, clean water and medicine are provided to those affected. It’s the human suffering that stares one in the face – collapsed houses, desperate faces, people running after relief materials, scores of families entrapped on roofs, huddled in temporary shelters and destruction of standing crops on lacks of acres of land. All the districts and most of the towns and villages of Southern and Northern Sindh have been badly hit, dozens of towns including Badin, Mirpurkhas, Jhudo, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Dighri, Tando Bago, Sanghar, Thatta, Kaacho, Dadu, Kashmore, Tando Muhammad Khan, Kandhkot, Johi, Daharki, Omarkot have been inundated and damaged severely, more than 8 million helpless people are still encircled by water, hundreds of villagers including women and Children have drowned and disappeared, houses, domestic animals, vehicles, fish ponds, tube-wells and crops have been completely damaged.
In this catastrophic situation, Awami Tahreek (Peoples Movement of Sindh, Pakistan) and 40 million rain affected people of Sindh appeal to you and the world community to extend aid for the flood victims of Sindh Pakistan. Here are few Clips of TV Coverage on 2011 Rain Disaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qUTDR9SCD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3WA4LGjUQE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfzh25wP1G0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OktMNgl-isw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0snVYGz-LJI
The People of Sindh are in need of boats, helicopters, ground transportation including Rescue Buses, Trucks, Trains and relief supports like food grains, tarpaulins, blankets and Clothings, medicare measures etc. after which a long term development process is required for their proper rehabilitation and security of life including aged women and children along with the domestic animals. Sources of safe drinking water and proper arrangement of hygienic material just to avoid a severe contamination of drinking water are needed to be taken care of. Awami Tahreek (the Peoples Movement) and People of Sindh also request to you and the world community to extend their aid for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people of Sindh. It should be our priority to rehabilitate all the victims of rains at its earliest and to serve this purpose we appeal to your organization, the world community, The UNO, The Friends of Pakistan, The World Bank, ADB, SAARC, Common Wealth, European Union, G-8, OIC and International Relief Organizations and Donors including Red Cross, UNDP, USAID, AUSAID, OXFAM, SAP, ActionAid, CIDA, DFID, BMZ, JICA, SNPO, CRS, Lions Club, British Council, Rotary Club, UNICEF, GTZ, WFP, Save the Children Fund, Agha Khan Foundation and others to come forward to establish funds and relief camps for the relief of flood affected peace loving people of Sindh.
Awami Tahreek and other concerned organizations and individuals have provided relief at different Towns and villages through medical care and distributions of food and primary health services. The common illnesses our medical teams are treating include malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, flue, skin infections and scabies. Our Relief and Assessment Teams and the women workers of Sindhiani Tahreek have walked several hours to reach critical towns, Canal banks and isolated villages to setup the medical and food camps. They have identified twelve (12) urgent needs of flood affected families that will have to be addressed by the Government and International Donors over the longer term: 1-Transportation, 2-Establishment of Tent Cities in Hyderabad, Karachi and Sukkur for providing Shelter to homelss people, 3-Food, 4-Health and Nutrition, 5-Security, 6-Protection of Livestock and belongings, 7- Regaining incomes, 8-Restoration of Food Production Ability, 9-Education of Children, 10-Accountability of Funds and Donations, 11-Redesigning, Capacity Enhancement, Repair & Maintenance of main drains & all irrigation canals, 12-Permenment Rehabilitation of Flood Affected People.
Through this appeal we are sending an SOS message and fact sheet of the flood victims to the Conscience of the World. We expect your cordial handling of the situation. Please extend your co-operation to save the victims of Sindh temporarily and for a long-term involvement. The need is dire and we all must act with the greatest possible urgency to rush aid and relief to those affected.
Ayaz Latif Palijo
President Awami Tahreek
Add: B-48, Prince Town, Qasimabad, Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan
Email: ayazlatif@gmail.com
0092-300-3063471, 0092-313-3049220, 0092-321-3005853
Date: Sep 15, 2011
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