HYDERABAD: Body formed to probe flood relief fiasco
Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, Sept 18: The joint action committee of 20 NGOs, here on Monday constituted a 20-member fact-finding commission to assess the loss of life and property during floods and to find out reasons and causes of these losses and negligence of the government to provide relief to the flood affected people.
The announcement to this effect was made at a press conference addressed by the leaders of the committee.
The coordinator of the committee, Zain Daudpoto, Zulfiqar Shah of South Asia partnership, Punhal Sario and Khalil Kazi of Indus Development Organisation, Mustafa Baloch of Stre-ngthening Participatory Organisation and others said that the recent floods had wreaked havoc in Shahdadkot, Qambar, Faridabad, Johi and other areas in which many a precious life was lost and cattle, crops and houses were destroyed.
They pointed out that such disasters also occurred in other countries but the people were informed in advance by the state about the impending disaster and the affected people were also rehabilitated.
They regretted that in the country, the state did not realise its responsibilities especially as far as Sindh was concerned. They said the people were neither informed about the impending disaster nor were they provided any succour.
The leaders of the committee said the rulers have taken no steps to rehabilitate the victims of the calamity.
They said that there were also authentic reports that the floods had caused widespread devastations because of the selfishness of influential persons who diverted the course of the flood water to protect their own crops and properties.
They said many a question remain unanswered till date such as why the people were not provided any relief, whether the relief was provided only to a chosen few and who was responsible for this discrimination.
Why the affected people have not been rehabilitated so far and who was responsible for these acts.
They said, these questions needed answers and that was the reason that a 20-member facts finding commission comprising, the leaders of the civil society, media and experts has been constituted to find out the facts.
The leaders of joint action committee said that the members of the facts finding commission would meet the people of Shahdadkot, Jhal Magsi and Qambar on Sept 21 and of Wahra and Faridabad on Sept 22 and of Johi and adjoining areas on Sept 23 to collect data.
They said the report of the commission would be released at a press conference at the end of September.
