Aaj English TV

Friday, November 08, 2024  
05 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446  

Floods survivors arm themselves with stones

The move to target relief supplies backfires
A flood survivor holds stones in her had as she describe how they threaten relief trucks. PHOTO AAJ TV
A flood survivor holds stones in her had as she describe how they threaten relief trucks. PHOTO AAJ TV

As large swaths of Sindh remain covered with around 3-feet deep water and flood survivors live in tent cities set up on the roadside, patience is wearing thin. Flood victims in a Umar Kot tent city have armed themselves with stones to target relief supplies.

The tactic now seems to backfire as philanthropists have stopped relief activities in the area.

The district administration had set up the tent city on Umar Kot-Chachro road.

In recent days, the flood survivors, as well as people seeking to make some quick bucks, have armed themselves with stones. They lay in wait for relief trucks, which they run to stop as soon as they appear on the horizon.

Philanthropists carrying relief goods in trucks are threatened with road blockage if they fail to offer a cut to stone pelters which include women and children.

Flood survivors at a tent city in Umar Kot try to get potable water from a tanker. PHOTO AAJ TV
Flood survivors at a tent city in Umar Kot try to get potable water from a tanker. PHOTO AAJ TV

After the district administration failed to provide security to relief trucks, supplies were stopped.

People in tent cities are living a hard life as getting a can of water and food is a difficult task.

However, those living on the roadsides still far better than the flood survivors who chose to live near their inundated villages, away from main roads. Flood relief has not reached them.

In most of the Sindh district, highways are the only elevated and dry patches of land as most of the province remains submerged in water.