Flood Updates in Khairpur

On 21 July 2010, Pakistan was hit by heavier than usual monsoon flash foods. The monsoon floods have left above 2.5 million people affected and death toll has reached 1600 people (source: Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) assessment report, 3 August 2010).

The Indus River was flowing in low flood at Sukkur Barrage. It will be in high flood during the next 24 hours,” it said adding that the Indus River was flowing normal at Kotri Barrage and it will remain normal there during the next 24 hours. The Irrigation and Power Department said that discharge at upstream Guddu Barrage may remain between 8,50,000 cusecs to 9,50,000 cusecs on August 8 and August 9. Officials say 19 of Sindh’s 23 districts have been put on high alert.
Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Larkana and Khairpur districts are considered high priority, and operations to evacuate vulnerable populations in low-lying areas are under way, according to Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Director of operations at Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
In responding to this situation, on August 6, 2010, all (Indus Resource Centre) IRC Staff including Regional Manager Khairpur were present at the DCO House Khairpur, to help support the Govt. line agencies in packing up the food items and to take measures for their onward delivery to the flood victims. 1, 333 small food bags were prepared. The truck was loaded with 200 food bags which transported this aid to the flood affected areas of Sobhodero taluka district Khairpur. Three volunteers from IRC; Shafique Abbas Mangi, Akeel Ahmed and Ali Madad went to Sobhodero to distribute the food items in due course of time.
On August 7, 2010, IRC team including Naveed Khayal, Turab Ali, Ali Madad, Attique and Ghulam Muhhamd Junejo visited Jamsher Bund area existing in Kingri taluka where it was observed that, there were many small scattered villages found completely inundated consisted of 20-25 houses in each village. It was also observed that the agriculture was adversely affected in which some valuable crops like cotton, sugarcane and bananas were worth noted.
IRC volunteers along with Pakistan Army distributed 300 dry food bags among flood affected families of villages; Azizullah Kalhoro, Allah Dino Junejo, Karam Khan Junejo, Dost Muhammad Junejo, Khaliq Dino Junejo, Moar Kalhoro, Abdul Rehman Unar and Rasool Bux Junejo. All these villages are next to Jamsher Bund. According to Pakistan Army, they have shifted families to some safe places but still there were two villages i.e Azizullah Kalhoro and Allah Dino Junejo whose inhabitants showed reluctance to move to flood relief camps and wanted to take their livestock and grains with them, in case they are forced to be shifted. It was impossible to carry all these things by boat as the boat couldn’t bear the weight of buffaloes and cows.
August 8, 2010, IRC volunteers planned to distribute 500 food bags among 500 flood victims, team departed from DCO house Khairpur for Fareedabad Bund. Volunteers reached at Fareedabad Bund where Pakistan Army personnel were already available, Pak Army arranged the helicopter to take the Arial view of the inundated areas and to monitor all sorts of loss such as houses, crops, pet animals and grain stock etc.


Beside Fareedabad Bund, there was a village Sajan Mehaser where 45 food bags were distributed. Having done a systematic distribution relief team moved towards Point 06 and Point 0 of Ulra Jageer Bund where 100 and 110 food bags were delivered to Pak Army soldiers for their onward distribution to flood affected people. 150 food bags were also delivered to Pak Army for village, Abdul Rehman Unar. I am thankful to all the stakeholder and the Civil Society Organizations in taking such a great part for a noble cause of helping the helpless.