21 drought-stricken districts in Balochistan declared calamity hit
Daily Times, Staff report
1/12/2003

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has declared 21 districts of the province ‘calamity hit’ areas and urged the federal government to provide Rs 6 billion to deal with the drought.

The provincial revenue minister Asim Kurd Geelu said in a press conference here on Saturday that out of the 26 districts, 21 were declared ‘calamity hit’ areas, with Lasbella, Kharan and Khuzdar being the worst effected.

He admitted that 25 people died of famine in Khuzdar. He said, “relief work began after the provincial government released some funds but more aid was needed.”

For last 8 years the people of Balochistan were confronting sever drought, which has destroyed agriculture in the province and with the dropping water level orchards have also dried up, he said.

The minister urged all donor countries and organizations to start relief work in the province to help the population to over come the crises.

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