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Disaster in Balochistan
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We have received news that the long-standing drought that has been affecting the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Sindh has reached a critical stage resulting in the displacement of more than a million rural Baloch tribespeople from remote arid areas in the western districts of the province. At least fifty percent of the livestock of these largely nomadic herders has perished due to lack of water and children are beginning to die of starvation. The clans have been forced to set out on a mass migration from their familiar districts in their poverty and misery to seek water sources. The Govt. of Pakistan is unable to cope with a disaster of this magnitude and has called for assistance from international organizations. Paradoxically, two years ago, massive flash floods in the southwestern districts of the province swept away hundreds of villages and drowned thousands. The following was just received from the Internet edition of a Karachi newspaper: Drought conditions in Kharan worsening By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, May 7: "Large-scale migration of people from drought-hit areas to safer places is continuing in the province. Death of a three-year-old boy was reported from Nag in Kharan district where famine conditions were worsening despite the relief operation by the government. Reports coming from Kharan say that 110 families are still stranded in the hilly area of Basima and the government is making efforts to rescue them. Two helicopters of the army dropped relief goods for the stranded people. Reliable sources told Dawn from Kharan that two out of three sub-divisions of the district were badly affected due to drought. Around 45 to 55 per cent cattle died due to shortage of fodder and water. Sources said all water resources, including Karez and wells, had dried up which forced the people to leave their places in search of food, water and fodder. Around 400 families had already migrated towards Kalat, Surab and Nasirabad. Though the administration has set up six relief camps in different areas of Kharan district, yet the drought-affected people are preferring to stay at their places due to various reasons. In the meanwhile, relief operation continued in all the drought-hit areas of the province. According to the drought crisis control cell, atta, sugar, milk, pulses and other eatables were dropped from helicopters for drought-affected people in Chaghi and other affected areas. A train from Ahmedwal station was carrying water to the affected areas. The train would supply water from Nushki to Taftan, Dalbandin, Nukundi and other towns linked with the railway line." Please pray that these precious people, who have been tragically neglected through the centuries and have yet to hear the Gospel, may be reached in the extremity of their need as relief agencies seek to enter their land and minister to them in the Name of Jesus. For further information about the Baloch go to <www.strategicnetwork.org> and click on "Peoples" and then on Baloch, Southern and Baloch, Eastern. Irving W. Sylvia __________________________________________________
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