PFF Daily Flood Update Report Aug23

PFF Daily Flood Update Report Aug23
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) teams in Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Shahdadkot, Jamshoro and Thatta districts are still busy in rescue and relief work. PFF has provided 130 boats in Kashmore, Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Jamshoro and Thatta districts for rescue and relief work with 350 volunteers—some of the boats are being used by the district governments for the purpose.
Shahdadkot
Shahdadkot City now is under threats to be flooded because rising water pressure along the embankment built by the residents themselves to stop water. Fears prevail there that more than 90 per cent population has shifted to safer places, mostly traveling to Karachi. In this situation common people, who do not have much money are waiting for help and shifting their families to nearby safe areas.
About 39 villages of Shahdadkot vicinity have totally come under the water and the families have been shifted to safer places. PFF team observations reveal that the number of affected villages could be more than being explained, because the government institutions could not collect the exact data, so far. Land routes from different areas have been disconnected due to flood creating problems for the affected families. In many areas the flood water level is above six feet and the few people marooned could not take risk to leave their abodes.
PFF volunteers through boats evacuated 19 families on Sunday from Village Shahpur Jamali, 10 kilometers from the district headquarter Shahdadkot. The boats are still operating to help the people and shift them to safe areas. Earlier, when PFF rescue team reached there to evacuate families to safe places through fishing and speed boats residents refused, saying they need only food at this moment and were feeling safe. The village was located at five feet above the flood water level. But later PFF team convinced them that water level is rising and may wash away them. Hence, this is time to come out. However, 19 families were shifted and on Monday boats are operating to rescue more people there.
On Monday it was observed that the people standing alert at the embankment near Shahdadkot city have collapsed and they may ask the people to leave the city after one week long fight with the flood water. But despite the fears of being flooded the PFF team members using boats in rescue are still in the city for the peoples help.
Livestock and valuables on Sale
PFF teams working in the flood affected areas in Kashmore, Jacobabad and Shahdadkot said it seems no option left for the flood affected communities, who are selling out their livestock and other valuables to bear expenditures of migration. Specially cattle traders are there with trucks purchasing buffalo of Rs80,000—100,000 at cheapest rate of only Rs20,000 each, depriving the flood affected people of market rates of their animals. People are under pressure and traveling to Karachi by paying Rs80,000 fare of truck loading.
The worst affected people at this moment are those, who were daily wagers and have nothing to sell to take care of their children or travel to safe places. Several poor flood affected people were seen begging at roadsides, because they have nothing to eat. Children and elderly people are vulnerable to deadly diseases.
Kashmore
PFF team in Kashmore observed that the affected people, who left their abodes can not come back shortly as the situation is not favourable for them. It will take weeks and months, because animals’ carcasses are scattered everywhere. Entire system of water supply and sanitation has been collapsed, structure demolished. In this situation how can families dare to open the doors of their ruined houses in the deserted towns, where law and order situation is still tense. The government officials are incapable to guarantee these people to move towards their areas.
There are some cattle farms, where buffaloes and cows died of hunger and drinking contaminated water. At this moment municipal administrations are inactive. Farmers have nothing to shift carcasses of animals, which may create problem for the people living near there. Not only this hundreds of cattle heads either have died or are vulnerable to diseases in the flood affected areas.
Manchhar Lake, Jamshoro
Manchhar Lake is receiving water and crossed 11ft on Sunday evening. It is not yet declared Red Zone but after crossing 15ft water level the people will be given warning messages to shift to the safer places from the lake embankment. Above 18ft is the dangerous level. Presently the River Indus, where the Lake water could have released in case of emergency is already in supper flood and there is no other option to reduce the water level of the Lake. In case of reaching dangerous level, Manchhar may cause another disaster within the vicinity. The situation of livestock is not favourable as entire grazing fields and plain lands and crops have come under the flood water.
Kotri, Jamshoro
Six villages, three from Jamshoro and three others near Kotri have come under the flood water and residents have been shifted to safer places. There are still fears as protective embankment at some points is declared vulnerable and may destroy more villages in the vicinity.
Thatta
Flood water pressure is rising at Surjani and Monarki bunds, located both sides of the river. The government authorities have declared these two bunds sensitive and in case of breaching from any side may cause widely destruction. PFF teams are there to assess the situation. All the people have been rescued from Tando Hafiz Shah town but in Rajo Nizamani village a fisherman Arab son of Jumo Mallah died when the roof of his house caved in while he was busy in shifting some valuables from there.
High tides have been started with strong winds. The area people fear that the high tides will not receive the River water and in case of pushing the flood water back the further pressure on bunds may rise, creating more worst situation.
Distribution of Relief Items
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has distributed relief goods, including food and non-food items among the affected families, which include;
Jamshoro 621 Households
Thatta 651 Households
Kashmore 100 Households