Relief operation for drought-hit Aranji launched
The News, By our correspondent, 1/1/2003


QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Tuesday directed launching of relief and rehabilitation operation in Aranji sub-tehsil of district Khuzdar, some 300 kilometers away from the provincial capital, following the reports of over two dozens death caused by the persistent drought.

Taking notice of the drought situation, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Muhammad Yousuf directed the concerned authorities to take immediate action and launch relief and rehabilitation operation in Aranji in order to cope up with the situation. A sum of Rs 0.6 million were released for the provision of medicines and establishment of medical camps in Aranji, said an official notification.

Officials said that medical camps would be set up at Aranji in the first week and at Saroona in the second week of January. The medical experts would provide free medical treatment and medicines to the patients in these areas.

The Director General of Balochistan Health Department Dr Pir Muhammad Khawajakhel told The News medical teams comprising doctors and paramedical staff visited the drought-hit areas and provided medicines and the medical treatment there, previously.

District Health Officer (DHO) Khuzdar reviewed the Aranjiís situation and arrangements for holding medical camp at Saroona.

According to a report of EDO Health, a few deaths have been caused due to the malnutrition in the area, while some persons are suffering from night blindness due to deficiency of Vitamin A.

Reports reaching here from Aranji said that over two dozen people starved to death and scores of others are suffering from various diseases, including chest infection and malnutrition, due to the drought which hit parts of Aranji sub-tehsil since 1999. However, official sources said that few cases of deaths have been reported due to malnutrition in Aranji during last couple of weeks.

It may be noted here that the total population of Aranji is 28,500 according to the census of 1998 and livestock is the only sources of income for the majority of the dwellers. Thousands of cattle-head perished due to drought. There is no pasture in Aranji spread over 150 square kilometers forcing the animals to eat whatever available.

Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of World Food Programme (WFP), Governor Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal said that the provincial government was making all possible efforts according to available resources for the relief and rehabilitation of the drought affected people.

In remote areas of Balochistan, Mengal added, special attention was being paid to provide health, education and other facilities to the people.

He hoped that desired results would be achieved with the effective coordination and cooperation among United Nations organizations, NGOs and the provincial government in this regard. He underlined the need of collective work in this connection.

Earlier, the representative of WFP German Valdivi briefed the governor that WFP was not only providing food stuff to the Afghan people in the province, but also providing food to the drought affected people in Balochistan, including district Pishin and Chaghai. He said that the edible oil was being provided to 650 female teachers and girls students in girls primary schools under girls primary education program in the province.

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