MITHI, Feb 13: A World Bank team has observed that one of six women dies prematurely in the sand-swept belt of Sindh where poverty has attained alarming magnitude.

The team visited Tharparkar district under the Village Immersion Programme of the Work Bank to identify lack of amenities and recommend development strategies to improve the living standard of people.

Speaking at a ceremony here on Saturday after a five-day visit, team members said the bank had great responsibility and therefore it sent representatives to underdeveloped countries for assessing the situation.

The senior community development specialist and regional coordinator of the Village Immersion Programme, Qazi Azmat Isa, said there was recurrence of drought in the area and people suffer from lack of potable water, malnutrition and lack of health care.

He said that international donor agencies, government, NGOs and the community could mitigate sufferings by following appropriate policies. He said one institution or an individual could not accomplish required results but partnership could bring about satisfactory results.

He said that knowledge-based education, implementation of development programmes and commitment with cause could pave a way for development and progress. Naomi J. Das of Sri Lanka said poverty was higher in Thar in comparison to Sri Lanka.

She said she could not eat meal at home of her host at the first night. Ms Das said Thari children were in dire need of food, clothes and milk. Phillippe Auffret of France said one of six women died unnaturally and malnutrition and scarcity of potable water were the main problems of the area.

"Collaboration among government, humanitarian agencies, NGOs and community can pave a way for sustainable development in any deprived area like Tharparkar", Mr Phillippe said.

Shahnaz Sultan said there was an acute dearth of food, education and health care in the area. She said women in the area were skilled at making different crafts but they received meagre price for their works owing to lack of proper marketing. Arlene. D. Reyes of Philippine, Karinal (Brazil), Ghulam Ali (Pakistan), Dr Sono Khangharani and Dr Shafi Mohammad also spoke on the occasion.