ISLAMABAD, July 9: The Balochistan Solidarity Front on Monday set up a relief camp in G-9 Sector in support of the flood-affected people of Sindh and Balochistan. Speakers at the camp criticised the government for neglecting the plight of millions of people in the food-devastated areas. The BSF comprises People’s Rights Movement, Mirani Dam Action Committee, Youth Vision, Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party and Inqilabi Jamhoori Workers’ Committee.

Passersby donated money and relief items to the camp which will be sent to the flood-stricken areas, a press release issued by the BSF said.

Speaking on the occasion, Salman Haider of PRM said it was shocking that the situation in Balochistan had virtually received no press coverage in spite of the fact that the scale of disaster was not less than that of the October 2005 earthquake.

He said over the past few days the government had created an impression that there was no issue in the country except the Lal Masjid standoff. “This is nothing but a conspiracy to divert attention from the government’s serious crisis of legitimacy and failure to respond to the cyclone and flood devastation in a meaningful manner,” he remarked.

Hammal Khan of Mirani Dam Action Committee said the government had still not provided drinking water, medicines and tents to the affected people more than two weeks after the disaster.

He said millions of people were sleeping under the open sky in extreme temperatures while various preventable diseases were spreading in the affected areas.