Floods devastate Sindh: Crisis worsens, hundreds killed

Hameed Channa, Progressive Workers Federation Pakistan (PWFP) and Socialist Movement Pakistan (CWI Pakistan) in Sindh

Floods in Sindh, Pakistan, have killed more than 500 people, destroyed or damaged 1.5 million houses and swamped five million acres since late last month. And the situation is getting worse by the day.

More than 7,000 people are being treated for snake bites. The floods have also had a devastating impact on livestock - about one million cattle have died or disappeared.

"We have lost everything," a woman in Jamal Shah in rural Sindh province told us. "Our houses, our valuables and all our fields are under water, and the government hasn't given us anything. No one has come here to help us".

The crisis is getting worse by the hour but the government has totally failed to rescue people from affected areas. Anger with the government is running high. 80 men blocked the main road to Hyderabad, the biggest city near the flooded areas, on Wednesday, demanding help from the authorities.

Disease risk

"Our houses and farms are submerged under water" said Darya Khan, taking shelter at the PWFP camp along with his eight children.

"The government shifted us to a school which is also full of water. Many of us got infected with diarrhoea, malaria and skin diseases", he added.

Aid groups have said that victims of Pakistan's floods are at growing risk of potentially fatal diseases.

There is an urgent need to provide immediate and life saving relief to the millions affected. It hasn't stopped raining in Sindh for the last ten days. Large swathes of land are underwater and people are desperately awaiting relief.

The Sindh health department has called for the international community to "expedite its response to ensure that millions affected get the help they need as soon as possible."

113 camps have been established in Mirpur Khas District, mostly by the affected peoples forming spontaneous settlements besides main roads and relatively safe areas of the district.

The Progressive Workers Federation of Pakistan and Trade Union Rights Campaign - Pakistan have set up two camps in Mirpur Khas District. Here more than 200 of our trade union workers and also our comrades have been moved with their families.

We have provided them with medicines, food and accommodation for the last three weeks, but now we need the solidarity from our international trade union friends and comrades to meet the disaster and secure the lives of our friends and comrades.

Floods devastate Sindh: Crisis worsens, hundreds killed

Hameed Channa, Progressive Workers Federation Pakistan (PWFP) and Socialist Movement Pakistan (CWI Pakistan) in Sindh

Disease risk

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