Owais Mughal
Baluchistan was hit by a cyclone named ‘Yemyeni’ four days ago and it has caused widespread havoc. BBC news site is reporting that 800000 people have been affected. Today there are even reports of rioting by the hungry people waiting for aid to arrive. Worst affected area is reported to be Turbat where water over ran the embankments of Mirani dam. Government aid has started pouring in slowly but a lot needs to be done. The detailed news about the cyclone and rain havoc across Baluchistan is all over the national and international media therefore at ATP we will let following images do the talking. The title photo above is of a submerged Turbat mosque.
These photos have been linked to the news sites and clicking on them will take you to their parent websites.
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In this photo, the main road to Turbat is seen washed away in a flash flood. This photo is from thursday, June 28, 2007. Turbat city which has a population of 150000 is also without drinking water and electricity. Government of Pakistan has confirmed 14 deaths and 23 missing as of friday but this number may go higher once the water recedes.
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In the photo to the right, angry protestors are seen walking towards the ‘nazim’ (mayor’s) office of Turbat. They are protesting slow and meager aid reaching their villages. The water from the hand-drwan wells has been rendered undrinkable due to floods and tube-wells which draw water from much deeper could not be operated because of power failure. Rauf Rind, nazim (mayor) of Kech said:
“The entire town has been inundated and people have taken refuge in tall buildings and trees”.
Chakar Baloch who walked more than 40 km through the night to reach Turbat said:
“Every family is looking for one or two members”.
Others feared they would never see their missing family members again.
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Photo shows some of the problems that this cyclone has brought to people in the affected areas.
More photos of Baluchistan rains can be seen at BBC news site here.
Hamid Mir and Musharraf:
http://jang.com.pk/jang/jul2007-daily/02-07-2007/c ol1.htm
With most of the communications channels cut including the roads, telephone, electricity and air-strips, I believe govt must be facing real challenges in reaching out to the people. Coastal highway which was built with standards at par, if not better, than any other major highway in Pakistan is also washed away at places which shows nature’s power against human planning. The sense of resentment and deprivation among Baluchis may be very valid; I Somehow do not feel any appeal in raising nationalistic flag in this hour of need. Whoever is providing help (Govt or private) should be encouraged. help people first and do ‘syasat’ later.
That being said, in 1970 one of the worst cyclones of modern history had hit the then East Pakistan with a life loss of more than 100 thousand. West Pakistan was blamed for not coming to aid in time. The books I’ve read on East Pakistan debacle all cite that cyclone of 1970 as one of the major (among others) reasons when people seriously got alienated from center at the apathy. The matter was ofcourse fueled by nationalist parties too.
Similarities of that calamity of 1970 which I read in books and the present one which I see/read in news come natural to me. Therefore dealing with this problem on humanitarian (and not political) grounds immediately is what I think is needed.
Thanks MQ.
Its an eye opener. Must be read by pro musharraf and my punjabi brothers who think and make excuse that the sardars are the reasons for Balochistan under development. The link is here.
Here is the link:
MQ can you post the link of interview.
I found this when i was searching for the interview on google. How ture even after a year. Things in Balochistan haven’t changed in more then 50 years. But natural gas still keeps flowing from this provience to every corner of Pakistan.
daily times 2006
Abdul Qadir Baloch
“The situation in Balochistan is grave. It is not a matter of a disagreement with three sardars, as the president and the press would have us believe. The disenchantment is real and will not be solved by releasing pictures of some bearded, turbaned people surrendering,