ASIA/PAKISTAN-Heavy floods in Pakistan; for Caritas, "the government has failed in prevention"

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - It is an emergency that overlaps on another emergency. While the reconstruction after the epochal 2010 flood was still being dealt with, new major floods have hit southern Pakistan in recent days, causing over 200 deaths and 5 million displaced. Driving rain, overflowing rivers and flooding were concentrated in Sindh, the southern province of Pakistan. The government has launched an appeal for solidarity to the United Nations and the International community. Even NGOs have been active, including Caritas Pakistan.
Amjad Gulzar, who has been the Executive Director of Caritas Pakistan for three months, says to Fides: "We were still engaged in the reconstruction after the floods last year, here is a new and terrible emergency. We have launched an appeal for solidarity in the country and also to Caritas Internationalis. Out of 23 districts in Sindh, 22 have been severely affected. We intervened immediately, thanks to our local teams. Caritas of Hyderabad is monitoring the situation and interventions. In this first stage, food and tents for the displaced are desparately needed".
Meanwhile, the controversy over inadequate preventive measures taken by the government are already scorching. Several civil society organizations are highly critical. "The government has failed in the prevention. The 2010 floods hit the entire country, but does not seem to have learned anything. The government's response was not effective and now we find ourselves in the same situation, with disastrous consequences of poverty and misery for millions of people" the director of Caritas agrees.
Interviewed by Fides, Peter Jacob, lay Catholic and Director of the "Justice and Peace Commission" in the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan, highlights another aspect concerning religious minorities: "In Sindh there are many Hindu and Christian communities affected by floods and displaced persons. We hope there is no discrimination in aid, and that this aid reaches those who need it. We hope for effective action. The Justice and Peace Commission also took action against natural disasters, and we reached over three thousand people affected by floods last year. We will continue to monitor the situation". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/09/2011)