PFF Report 8 sep 2010

PFF Flood Daily Report Sep8
Water level in Manchhar Lake rising
The Sindh government authorities on Wednesday gave a cut in Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain to give smooth flow to the flood water to the Manchhar Lake. It was decided to save Johi and Sehwan Towns and hundreds of villages, where water pressure had panicked the people. MNV has a capacity of flowing 3500 cusec water while presently it is carrying more water and there were fears of flooding more villages. To save further devastation, the government has decided to give the flood water a smooth flow to the bigger lake, where presently water level reached 14ft.
About 15 small fishermen villages located inside the Manchhar Lake have been shifted to embankment. There are fears that in case of overflow into the Lake water may cause affecting 250 other villages, comprising around 0.4 million population, located near the lake may be affected. Government officials of Wapda, Irrigation and other relevant departments with 1000 local people were present at the site, where they were trying to give cut to the drain. Initially, the government used machinery which could not work properly and the people made efforts but failed. Then again the government officials brought instantly heavy machinery to give the smooth way to the flood water.
The MNV drain was planned to carry effluent from upper parts of the province. The government officials believe that the rising flow of Manchhar lake will be released back to the River Indus through natural sources, two major canals. The PFF activists monitoring the situation closely said the water level in the river Indus is declining hence there is no threats to the population living around the lake. The water will flow to the river to decrease the water pressure at Johi and Sehwan.
Despite this the PFF workers are not sure that everybody living close to the Manchhar lake is safe because it is up to the situation. MNV drain is carrying more water flowing through Hamal Lake and the flood water with rainwater contributing much pressure, destroying wide area in Dadu district.
Health hygiene Sessions
Looking to the deplorable conditions at the camps and congestion Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum arranged Health and hygiene sessions to imparting basic knowledge to the communities to avoid any disease in the area. Despite efforts, in many areas coming under the government’s administration, people do not have access to potable water, safe food and sanitation facility. Due to negligence, the PFF took initiative to promote health and hygiene sessions. PFF health promoters conducted ten sessions in the camps where PFF volunteers distribute food items with support of Oxfam Novib. One thing to be noted here that most of the people are relocated from the camps and have setup their temporary makeshift camps at some distance from their earlier camps.