- Title: PAKISTAN: Flood victims bemoan lack of government help
- Date: 21st September 2011
- Summary: FAMILY SITTING INSIDE HUT SMALL GIRL SITTING ON THE GROUND
- Embargoed: 6th October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
- City:
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Disasters
- Reuters ID: LVA9V067IM8WNS1Z2460XBH5Q02N
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Flood victims from southern Pakistan's flooded areas continued to stay in makeshift huts on Tuesday (September 20) and expressed frustration at what they call a lack of government support.
The country's cash-strapped government has been slow to respond to the floods, which have killed over 300 people and damaged or destroyed about 1.2 million houses since monsoon rains triggered the crisis in late August.
Sixty-year-old flood victim Misri who had fled his inundated house with his wife and eleven children, said he has received no help from the authorities.
"My house has been swept away. So, now I am collecting branches to make a shelter for my family. We will put plastic or paper over it and then sit inside. The government has given us nothing at all."
Flood victim Usman said he managed to retrieve most of his smaller belongings and his cattle, but, three weeks on, he has had to sell most of them to buy food.
"Our houses are gone and we are surviving by selling our crockery, jewellery and cattle. The government is not doing anything for us, and we are not going to run after the government. We only get beaten and pushed around when we go there," he said.
In its latest report on Pakistan's flood situation issued on Monday (September 19), Oxfam has warned that as the number of people affected by the floods continues to rise, deaths could increase "if funding remains slow."
The report also urged the Pakistani government to issue a quick response to the disaster.
The unprecedented rains in the southern Sindh province have wreaked havoc with the lives of millions of people and caused huge devastation to livestock, standing crops and infrastructure.
Entire towns and villages of 22 districts in Sindh have been destroyed, resulting in displacement of over seven million people . - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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