Pakistan Relief Foundation (PRF) held Sindh government responsible for the deaths of about 150 innocent children and a large number of livestock in Tharparkar. This was mentioned in PRF's comprehensive assessment report titled "PRF Report on drought/famine-affected Tharparkar.
The PRF demanded of the higher authorities to take stern actions against the officials of the departments concerned who were responsible for disaster.
It also demanded a special Task Force on Drought in Sindh comprising experts, representatives of civil society and government officials should be constituted, relief being provided to the effected people should be depoliticized, VVIP visits to the affected areas be minimised to avoid disturbances in carrying out relief operations whereas food security be provided to the people.
It also urged the authorities to provide nutrition supplements to malnourished children while the public sector hospitals should be well-equipped, ensuring presence of doctors and availability of medicine and ambulances.
Moreover, arrangements should be made for supplying clean drinking water and the federal government should provide loans to the youths of Tharparkar.
According to the PRF, Tharparkar district, which usually receives rainfall only during the monsoon season, witnessed scattered and delayed rains during monsoon-2013. The rain deficit in parts of district resulted in less-than-average agriculture production and shortage of fodder for livestock. The situation aggravated in the months of October, November, and December with the outbreak of diseases which affected more than 0.1 million livestock.
The PRF report recalled that in August 2012, the previous PPP-led provincial government had declared Tharparkar a calamity-hit area as it had assessed the situation of drought on time and had succeeded in saving the livestock and precious lives of the local people. In 2013-14, the incumbent Sindh government which is also of PPP, had not taken pre-drought steps to save the people of Tharparkar.