Peshawar: Survivors of the unprecedented
floods in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday complained about the
government`s inaction in mitigating their sufferings even as
relief work was hampered by submerged roads, washed out
bridges and disrupted communication links.
Sitting in a relief camp set up at a government
school, eight-year-old Saeed said he wanted to go back to his
village of Akbar Pura but his house had been washed away by
gushing waters in the middle of the night.
“We don`t have any shelter to live in," he said.
Saeed, the son of a mason, said he was in the camp
with his two younger brothers.
"They are playing in the school`s play ground because
they are unaware of what has happened to our home," he said.
Scores of children affected by the floods were seen
playing in the play ground while members of social welfare
organisations were busy cooking meals for them.
Naveed, 10, Amjad, 12, and Shahzad, 15, were among the
boys who had endured similar trauma after being forced to
leave their homes in Jabbi village of Nowshera district.
"This is the only shirt I have," said Muhammad
Jamsheed, sitting in the playground.
"Everything was submerged in a flash by the floods,"
he said with tears in his eyes.
Bakht Ranra, 70, who lost two grandsons in the floods,
alleged that government officials and relief workers were only
helping friends or relatives.
"I came here at 5 o`clock in the morning. I did my
best. I begged and fought but got nothing. They`re giving
relief goods to their people," she said.
Private charity organisations were active in relief
camps, providing succour to the displaced, while the
government`s presence was conspicuous by its absence.
Many victims complained that government officials and
bodes only swung into action when any dignitaries visited
flood-hit areas.
Private organisations even set up health desks by
hiring the services of doctors.
Two such doctors, Muhammad Irfan and Raees Zaidi, told
agency that waterborn diseases like cholera, diarrhoea and
gastroenteritis are common among people living in relief
camps.
"We have brought medicines that were purchased in
large quantities on a self-help basis," Zaidi said.
Many flood victims were unhappy with the government`s
response and hundreds of people blocked a major road in
flood-hit Nowshera district to protest at receiving little or
no aid.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority today
issued new flood warnings as more rains fell and rising water
levels threatened to overwhelm Warsak and Tarbela dams in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
"If needed, forced evacuation will be started," said
Adnan Khan, a spokesman for the PDMA.
The worst floods witnessed in Pakistan in several
decades have killed 1,500 people and affected 3.2 million
people.
The flooding, which started almost a week ago, is
likely to continue as more rains are expected.
PTI
