Shair Afzal
KARACHI: As many as 71130 flood affectees have returned to their abodes from relief camps in last 48 hours. Currently, 273667 flood hit people are taking shelter including 81126 children and 62399 women in the relief camps and tent cities across the province.
The Provincial Information, Transport and Mass Transit Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon revealed this in a press statement on Monday. He added that according to the report of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) 15449 affectees are taking shelter in relief camps in Karachi division . Similarly, 71679 in Hyderabad, 48373 in Sukkur, 48630 in Shaheed Benzirabad, 69633 in larkana and 19903 flood affectees are residing in Mirpurkhas division relief camps.
Damages:
The minister said that 770 deaths including 325 children and 143 women have been reported in rain and flood related incidents, while 8422 injuries occurred. ‘ The devastating torrential rains and floods have perished 436409 value assets of livestock, besides damaged 3777,272 acres crop land.
The minister said that 1881101 houses damaged. Out of which 722079 fully collapsed, while hundreds of thousands are not in condition for use of residence purpose as they need major repair work or reconstruction.
Relief Operations:
At least 28675 families have been delivered ration bags and 1800 tents also distributed among the flood hit people in last 24 hours, the minister said and added that so far total 1495773 families have been delivered ration bags. While 599918 tents, 535215 plastic tarpaulin, 3140036 mosquitoe nets, 28000 animal mosquito nets, 800323 liters mineral water, 68000 Jerry cans and other essential relief items distributed among the displaced people.
Dewatering:
The Sindh government is focusing on the drainage of stagnant water from the affected areas and Chief Minister Sindh himself is monitoring the operation by chairing meetings with Irrigation, Local Government, Public Health departments on regular intervals to review the progress made on dewatering process. At present, stagnant water is being darined out through lift machines in Khairpur Mirs, Noshehro Feroz, K.N Shah, Matiari, , and other areas . He added that Noshehro Feroz is one of the worst hit area where heavy pumping machinery have been installed at 12 places to drain out water from 51000 acres of land for which PDMA has provided 15 lift machines to district administration, 14 machines of irrigation and 10 tractor mounted pumping machinery hired by district administration on rent and 24 pumping stations of Scarp and Public Health Engineering Department are working to complete the task. Likewise, PDMA has mobilized heavy pumping machinery at the Kari Mori of MNV drain near K.N. Shah to lift the rain water in the MNV darin.
Health Facilities:
The minister said that over 13 million flood affectees have been provided treatment facility with regard to maleria, diarrhea, dengue, respiratory and skin diseases. He added that Sindh Health department, EPI had established central control room to monitor the medical assistance operations in the flood affected areas. Besides, PPHI is also activily participating in providing health facilities to affected people through it’s mobil teams in remote areas.
