Editor TLN
Although the water has receded, the situation in southern Pakistan remains dire. Poverty has quadrupled and the population is exposed to looting. The Bishop of Hyderabad said: “Even before the disaster our situation was difficult.” The campaign to send aid is still open.
Sindh () – While in Sharm el Sheikh the world discusses the climate emergency endlessly, in southern Pakistan the conditions of the populations affected in August by a flood of unprecedented size and damage continue to be dramatic. Last week at COP27, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself asked the international community for emergency funds to deal with the disastrous consequences of abnormal rains that hit the country, causing almost 2,000 deaths and material damage to more than 5 million people. people.
Thanks to the campaign launched by , 90 Christian, Muslim and Hindu families living in the village of Allah Bachao Shoro, near Hyderabad, have been rescued in recent weeks. Tents, mosquito nets and food rations were distributed, but not enough for everyone and some Christian families, after receiving basic necessities from the local diocese, were attacked and robbed.
Most of them are Christian farmers who are forced to go to Hyderabad in search of day labor because the farmland is flooded. Often they are paid half what they are used to because employers take advantage of their extreme poverty: instead of 800 rupees (4 euros), they receive 4-500 (2-2.50 euros).
“We have lived here for forty years and we have never seen this kind of situation because we are all poor. But after the floods poverty quadrupled and now many people steal to support their families,” says Abdul Majeed, a local catechist. “After what has happened, our Christian community is afraid and wants to move to another place, we live in tents next to the canals, the winter season has arrived and we don’t have warm clothes, blankets or padding.”
The Bishop of Hyderabad, Msgr. Samson Shukardin, had already denounced to in recent days episodes of discrimination against Christians: “In some cases they told Christians ‘this is not for you, it is for everyone’, and they did not They delivered the food. In many places, not all people are treated in the same way.”
Although the water has receded, there are still serious problems in the region: “The first is food – explains Monsignor Shukardin -. We are giving money to farmers so that they can sow again, but the land is not yet ready, and anyway “There is a long way to go before we can harvest. And then there is healthcare for those who have lost everything and continue to live in precarious conditions.”
Many churches were also damaged and it is not clear if the government aid programs will be enough for the Sindh region to recover. “Even before this disaster we were in difficulties,” continues the bishop. “Now the NGOs are working, but they have only been allowed to do so for six months. We hope people can get medical care, because there are very few doctors and hospitals in this area.”
The campaign to support people affected by the floods is still open: you can offer your support WITH AN ONLINE DONATION AT THIS LINKor through the following channels ALWAYS INDICATING THE CAUSE AN05 PAKISTAN EMERGENCY:
Online payment with credit card (Visa, Cartasì, Mastercard, American Express) or Paypal
Bank transfer: payable to Fondazione Pime Onlus, Crédit Agricole
IBAN IT89M0623001633000015111283
Please always send an email confirming the bank transfer to [email protected], specifying your name, surname, address, NIF, place and date of birth (data necessary to issue the valid document for tax deduction).
Postal current account: no. 39208202 in the name of the Pime Onlus Foundation.
Check or money order: payable to Fondazione Pime Onlus, to be sent to Fondazione Pime Onlus, via Monte Rosa, 81 – 20149 Milan.
