Financial support for flood victims: Sindh government calls for World donors' conference in March

The Sindh Minister for Rehabilitation Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra has said that world donor's conference would be invited in the month of March 2011 to get financial support from world communities for the permanent rehabilitation of all flood victims in the province.
He said that Planning & Development Department and other sister organisation of Government of Sindh were actively engaged in the preparation for calling world Donor's conference. This he said while addressing Sindh Information Department (SID) Media forum at Regional information office Shahbaz building Hyderabad on Monday. Addressing the participants of the forum, the Sindh Minister for rehabilitation said that some friendly countries were already engaged in the rehabilitation works in Sindh.
Elaborating the contribution of such countries he said that $71 Million have been offered by USA for rehabilitation programmes under which in addition to other works, 3 worst affected big Towns including Qubo Saeed Khan, KN Shah and Ghari Khero would be redeveloped and converted into modern towns by providing water supply, drainage, communication, roads, health and education facilities to the inhabitants.
Replying a question the Sindh Minister added that those who had lost their houses in these towns would also be provided new houses under the scheme. The Sindh Minister for the rehabilitation informed that Sindh Government has planned to construct 30 thousands houses for the flood victims at different places.
He said that under this scheme, villages comprising on 100 or more than 100 houses would be established at affected areas where all basic facilities of health, education, water supply and drainage would be provided. He said that in addition to that Turkey's government has agreed to construct 2000 houses at Shikarpur with market and other all basic facilities.
Similarly, UNO organisation namely habitat has agreed to construct total 10 thousands houses at Jecobabad, Shahdadkot and Dadu district. Like wise Iranian government agreed for constructing 1000 to 10000 houses at Thatta district. He said that 3 NGOs from Turkey have agreed to provide hospitals, water supply, sewerage and education facilities at flood affected areas. Responding a question about plugging of breaches, the Sindh minister said that the provincial government has provided Rs 1 billion to irrigation department for plugging the breaches and has sought Rs 5 billion from federal government for the purpose.
He said in case of delay in releasing funds from federal government, the Sindh government would provide another 1 billion to irrigation department. He expressed his optimism that before coming monsoon season the repair works of flood protection bunds would be completed.
He said that an amount of Rs 5 billion have been earmarked for providing fertiliser and seeds to the flood affected formers with free of cost as such 16,000 bags of fertilisers have been distributed only in district Jamshoro till date. While replying question about issuance of Watan Card, the Sindh Minister said that 5,60,000 Watan Cards have been issued to the flood victims families till date while issuance of 2,00,000 Watan Cards was in the pipe line.
Replying for delay in issuance of Watan Card to some victims the Sindh Minister said the unfortunately most of the affected people have not been provided CNIC before their victimisation and added that it was the main obstacle for issuance of Watan Card. Consequently Sindh government persuaded the NADRA Management for issuance of CNIC to the victims and added that after these efforts as many as 6, 00,000 new CNIC have been issued to the flood affected people.
Responding another question about present number of flood victims people residing in relief camps, the Sindh Minister said that about 100,000 affected were still living in relief camps and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has convened a meeting on February 9, 2011 to discuss the status of these victims and taking necessary steps for their rehabilitation.
To another question he said that big breaches at Tori have been plugged and only raising of embankments is remained, similarly small breaches in different canals in different districts were also being plugged and he presented the example of Jamshoro district where out of 85 breaches 81 have been plugged completely till date. About wrongly issued Watan Cards, the Sindh Minister said that all such cards have been blocked and strict transparency in issuance of Watan Cards was being maintained.
He said that though the flash flood has caused devastation at large scale but same has also caused the reason of good wheat crop at Dadu district and other riverian areas as well. Responding another question about starting rehabilitation works the Sindh minister said that due to increase in sub surface water table, difficulties were being experienced in reconstruction works specially in the areas at upper Sindh. However he made it clear that works would be started and got completed before the next monsoon season.