MUZAFFARGARH: Rehabilitation has started in Muzaffargarh and Layyah districts where the floodwater is receding after causing incalculable loss to people.

The Indus water hit the areas, especially rural parts of the two districts, in the last three weeks or so. As the rains have stopped and water is receding, the families who vacated their homes are awaiting financial assistance.

At Alipur tehsil, Assistant Commissioner Ahsan Mobeen and his team made arrangements to provide cooked food to the affected people, while in Jatoi’s Lundi Pittafi and Jughiwala areas, people were waiting for food items.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qamar distributed tents and food items at Alipur where 45 villages had been inundated by the Indus river water.

He said his teams were distributing tents and food items in the two tehsils and financial assistance would be given after a week. He said the official teams would start the survey of losses of crops, cattle and houses as directed by the government.

He said he was sending donors and NGOs to those affected areas where huge losses occurred. Dozens of donors and NGOs approached the district administration, seeking security to accomplish the task of distribution of food items and providing medical aid.

On Friday, donors and NGOs’ representatives reached the deputy commissioner’s office and demanded security for the distribution of food items and cash to the floods victims. The deputy commissioner assured them of security and said strict action would be taken against those disrupting the process.

There are reports of snatching of food and other relief items by some people. Several donors from Lahore and Multan had to run away to avoid harm. They alleged that some criminals were taking advantage of the situation in the flood-hit areas.

Meanwhile, the Muzaffargarh police said there would be no mismanagement in the distribution of food items. They advised the donors and NGOs to contact police and administration for security.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022