Sindh govt orders probe after 41 children die in Thar desert

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Sindh govt orders probe after 41 children die in Thar desert

Dawn.com Agencies Published March 7, 2014

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KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday ordered a probe into the death of 41 children who reportedly died of pneumonia and malnutrition in a stretch of the Thar desert.

Officials were alarmed by media reports from Mithi, one of the least developed and most remote districts in southern Sindh province, suggesting that more than 100 people had died because of famine and malnutrition.

“It is a very serious matter and we have deputed a senior member of the party and officials to probe into the deaths,” Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told reporters.

The chief minister also ordered the arrest of senior health officials for neglecting their duties, saying they had failed to move the children to hospitals in the bigger cities.

Shah said the cause of the deaths would be confirmed by the investigation but apparently pneumonia and malnutrition were among the reasons.

The chief minister said the government records showed the death of 41 children but there were fears that the actual number may be higher.

The Thar desert begins around 300 kilometres from Karachi and runs up to the border with India, where it joins the Rajasthan desert.

Poor health and communication infrastructure keeps the district disconnected from mainstream population.

The chief minister admitted the authorities had not done all they could to look after the needs of the people.

“I admit that the distribution of wheat was not appropriate,” Shah said.

In 2000, the desert suffered a famine that killed 90 percent of the livestock, the economic mainstay of the area.—AFP

Our correspondent adds: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken serious notice of the incidents of death of children in Tharparkar district.

The prime minister while taking notice of the situation has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to immediately get in touch with authorities in Sindh and provide all possible aid and assistance.

After getting instructions from the premier, NDMA has contacted authorities in Sindh and its provincial chapter to assess the situation on an emergency basis.

Sources said relief good after initial assessment from NDMA may reach Thar within the next 24 hours.

—Mateen Haider contributed to this report from Islamabad.

Pakistan

Famine-like situation in Thar after severe drought

M.Ali

Mar 07, 2014 05:06pm

They weren't cared when they were starving of penury. now you people are trying to own the souls for 2 lacs. Strange!

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Landhi wala

Mar 07, 2014 06:15pm

This man Shah and his henchmen need to account for the wheat that was supposed to be distributed to these famine victims. He need to provide proof what happened to the wheat and other food.

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cynic

Mar 07, 2014 06:17pm

Mr. Bilawal will probably save all those poor "Sindhi souls", once they done with the sacred task of saving "Sindhi culture".

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Muhammad

Mar 07, 2014 06:28pm

The action shall also be taken against the persons who are taken notice after the event because it was there responsibility to protect the people from such disaster.

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TKhan

Mar 07, 2014 06:41pm

I feel so sorry for the mothers of these helpless children. Apparently there is no interest on the part of Pakistani Citizens on the sad demise of these children. So far there is only one sad comment from Mr. Ali that said it so rightly. Justifiably but sadly we are so engulfed with Talibans and Cricket that news of this type are secondary our interest. Sad, Sad and Sad.

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A2Z

Mar 07, 2014 07:07pm

Why NDMA needs orders from PM. It should be proactive if not then at least reactive and take all the necessary steps without any orders. It is criminal act on the part of Sindh govt by delaying the circulation of wheat. So called free media was also busy in other things and never reported about this catastrophe. Shame on Sindh govt and media for such horrendous act of negligence.

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Amit

Mar 07, 2014 07:43pm

Given that most of the poorest people who live their are Hindus, I bet a majority of those dead are Hindu Children. India after the partition does not care two hoots about those destitutes who elk out a bare living. Wish India takes a leaf out of the Russian will in Crimea. In the same token, may be a Pakistan has a right to demand Kashmir (not all of J&K) and the Baluch right for their own homeland. May be as IRD's (Indian Defence Review) Bharat Verma said, India and Pakistan (& also India & Bangladesh) should engage in a second wave of exchange of populations and some land....e.g. in return for Kashmir Pakistan could surrender some of the Gilgit areas that were NOT predominantly Muslim at the time of partition, and even today has sizable numbers of minorities.

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Vishnu Mahant

Mar 07, 2014 07:45pm

It is so sad for forty some children to die before realizing there is something wrong. Pakistan is not poor African country where children should be starving. India has starving children too but forty reported dead due to starvation is extremely cruel even for Pakistan!

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PARACHA

Mar 07, 2014 08:12pm

What else do you expect every single govt. authority is corrupt, Health minister, Development minister, Police to name few, they eat most of the federal and provincial budget allocated. They all came to power by spending money so this is the time to make money, this is the culture. Every small politician is millioneer and every big politicion is billioneer. Why don't Mr. Bilawal and Asif Zardari help those poor Thar People from their personell wealth of $25 Billion, why don't Mr Nawaz Shareef do same, they just goin to come up with these statements as mentioned in this news and thats it.

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Tilikum

Mar 07, 2014 08:44pm

If only the would spend money on the poor instead of holding the Sindh Festival.

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Sami Ullah Swati

Mar 07, 2014 08:58pm

Sindh, being the stronhold of PPP, I am now awaiting a Tweet from Bilawal. This time it seems that he is unaware of it, otherwise he would have tweeted already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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IKE

Mar 07, 2014 09:17pm

This is result of Government and its policy failure whereas: 1. No road: Building roads was responsibility of Govt of Sindh. 2. Communications: Pakistan's telecommunications infrastructure is handed to foreign companies, Arab and Chinese, and they only care about money. 3. No disaster relief: Federal Govt failed, disaster relief is Federal Govt's job. 4. Media: Media has responsibility to be a responsible citizen. But media has failed because it failed to raise the issue in a timely fashion. 5. Bureaucracy: It has been a failure all along on every single issue.

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Akram

Mar 07, 2014 09:49pm

I don't understand, how did they die? due to lack of nutrition? or is it an outbreak of pneumonia amongst children weak from lack of nutrition? Certainly somebody's head should roll.

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Amir

Mar 07, 2014 10:24pm

It is unfortunate. The Sindh government has never cared about its people, and had pursued the culture of wadera-pun, subjugation, bonded labor, and landlord worship. Money is wasted on so called political cultural events. Corruption is prevalent of the highest order. I am not saying corruption is not happening anywhere, but in Sindh it is rampant. When I compare Punjab to Sindh (and I am from Karachi now in Lahore), I see less poverty in Punjab then in Sindh. There is more backwardness. It is wadera culture. No investment in infrastructure (avg speed it used to take me to cross sindh was 50-60 kmh, and from Saidaabad to Lahore my average speed was 80-90 kmh). Thar had been ignored for too long, just like any other city in Sindh. People in Lahore joke with me, look when PPP was in government what have they done for Larkana? and when PML N is in power, look at Lahore.

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Masoud

Mar 08, 2014 02:03am

41 children died of hunger is not enough for the Sindh gove to resign. Wait a minute, these are children of poor peoples, who cares. Shame to the Sindh Chief Minister for accepting the mistake and not firing the responsible. Shame to the peoples celebrating cultural festival & not caring for the poors in the neighborhood.

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Zeeshan Ahmed

Mar 08, 2014 02:16am

@Muhammad: Every person in society that was in a position to help is ultimately responsible. Allah (swt) will ask on the Day of Judgement why we did not help Him in this dunya. Perpplexed at this, people will wonder why or how someone could possible help Allah (swt) and He will say that He was the hungry and sick person we passed by without caring.

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Shahid

Mar 08, 2014 02:21am

Looking at the pictures of these children, it's very obvious that they suffer lack of nutrition. All those Jagirdars who are plundering the nation including the big boss Zardari and his children who have billions of stolen money should feel some shame at least as the days are not long away when they will have to suffer even worst after their death. Poor people of Thar have no shulter, food are water while the plundrers are dancing on the streets of Mohenjodaro.

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Janikhel

Mar 08, 2014 07:39am

The so called rich, the affluent, and our brain dead leaders should be brought to Tharparker desert and make them live there with locals, so they would know, how does it feel to be destitute, Nawaz cross Biluwal never suffered for the sake of small piece of bread, nor would they ever know, what hunger feels like, they should ALL be ashamed, if they had any shame.

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I. Ahmed

Mar 08, 2014 07:55am

It is a real shame. In 21st century when we can predict weather down to an hour our government leaders, knowing the history of area, were more concerned about their security than people dying of famine and drought. Now the CM of Sindh has allocated Rs 200,000 per family. Todate 41 people have died the government is spending Rs 8.2 million after the event. With this money they could have made arrangement to ensure that water and food could have been provided before the crisis. How much money do we waste due to bad governance and I'll planning? And the 'bullet train' PM has finally taken notice, shame on us as a nation to have elected these people to lead us, real shame.

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I. Ahmed

Mar 08, 2014 07:57am

@Janikhel: Don't invite them, they will see the land and build another Bilawal House or Raiwand Estate there, as they say ignorance is bliss!!!

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Dr A Saeed

Mar 08, 2014 09:11am

@M.Ali: Sindh Gov destroy billion of Rupees on the non sense Sindh festival ...at that time dozens of childrens facing death in Thar ....Where was Master Bilawal at that time ,flying kites,dance etc.Who is responsibe ??? 88 years old CM , 21 years Old Crown Prince Bilawal , The PPP ???* One is surprised that Bilawal is not holding a 'festival' in Thar and launching a full media campaign to tell us that "this is the real Pakistan". Bilawal lives in luxury...he cannot understand what hunger is...children will continue to die...and the ever-aging CM of Sindh will do nothing, absolutely nothing because of only this trait he has got everything in life.

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TKhan

Mar 08, 2014 09:54am

@Dr A Saeed: Unfortunately Dr Saeed, very same people who are affected by the natural disaster and neglect of the party they voted for will vote again for the very same people. Zardari and Balawal will go to Gadhi Khuda Baksh, and repeat the same slogan, "Kitnay Bhutto Maro gay, Her Ghar Say ek Bhutto niklega" - and encourage the naive citizens to pray at BeNazir's tomb. Chadors and Flowers will be aplenty, and poor people will run towards the free food and drinks, become happy doing Dhamaal, and will go the poling station feeling redeemed. So is the history, so is the truth and so is the future. Nothing will change, Nothing will be accomplished. Poor will remain naive and poor and rich? You know the answer!

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Salim A

Mar 08, 2014 05:01pm

Bilawal is a fake leader. He is nothing but a feudal wadera, making fake slogans to keep his grip on the poor, illiterate people. People must realize, that feudal and mullah have brought nothing but misery to the poor. They just use them for their gains and then slaughter them for the same. I am sure Bilawal or his minions will show up, throw some bread from a moving truck towards the hungry chasing it and then go back to their luxury lifestyle in Dubai.

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Shanzay

Mar 08, 2014 07:12pm

Will this nation ever wake up!!!!

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Adnankhan

Mar 09, 2014 05:02pm

Govt Want to Make Hospital For People relief In Tharparkar Mithi

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Mustafa

Mar 10, 2014 04:48am

When the parents of these poor children sold their votes for Rs. 500, they didn't realize they are selling their children for Rs. 500.

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khanm

Mar 10, 2014 09:59am

is any one going to be punished if not than this probe means nothing .... it is too late damages are already been done. cannot bring back those lives....Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.which we don't have any

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