Pakistan, some families affected by floods robbed of aid: poverty has quadrupled and the population has been reduced to looting

HYDERABAD (province of Sindh – AsiaNews) – While in Sharm el Sheik the world wearily discusses the climate emergency, in southern Pakistan the conditions of the populations hit in August by a flood without precedent in terms of size and damage remain dramatic. Last week at COP27, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself asked the international community for emergency funds to deal with the disastrous consequences of the abnormal rains that hit the country, causing almost 2,000 deaths and material damage to over 5 million people.

Tents, mosquito nets and food rations destroyed. Thanks to the campaign launched by AsiaNews, 90 Christian, Muslim and Hindu families living in the village of Allah Bachao Shoro, near Hyderabad, had been rescued in recent weeks. Tents, mosquito nets and food rations were distributed, but not enough for everyone: some Christian families, after receiving other basic necessities from the local diocese, were attacked and robbed. These are mostly Christian farmers who, now that the crops are flooded, are forced to go to Hyderabad in search of day jobs. They are often paid half because the employers take advantage of their condition of extreme poverty: instead of 800 rupees (4 euros), they receive 4-500 (2-2.50 euros).

The discriminations. “We have lived here for forty years – says Abdul Majeed, a local catechist – and we have never witnessed similar incidents because we are all poor. But after the floods, poverty quadrupled and many people now steal to support their families. After these facts our Christian community is afraid and wants to move to another place. We live in tents by the canals, the winter season has arrived and we don’t have warm clothes, blankets and quilts”. Episodes of discrimination against Christians had already been reported in recent days ad AsiaNews also by the bishop of Hyderabad, mgr. Samson Shukardin: “There were cases where Christians were told ‘this is not for you, it’s for others’ and so the food was not delivered. In many places people are not treated as equals.”

Difficult access to food. Although the waters have receded, there are still major problems in the region: “The first concerns food – mgr. Shukardin -. We are giving money to farmers to plant new crops, but the land is not ready yet and it will take time to harvest anyway. And then there is healthcare for those who have taken everything and still live in precarious conditions”. Many churches were also damaged, and it is not clear whether the assistance programs launched by the government will help the Sindh region recover: “Even before this disaster we were in difficulty”, continued the prelate. “Now the NGOs are intervening, but they were only allowed to do it for six months. We hope that people can get medical care, because there are very few doctors and hospitals in this area.”

The campaign of AsiaNews. To support flooded people it is still open: here’s how you can offer your support

* Shafique Khokhar, AsiaNews