Islamabad, November 16, 2018 (PPI-OT): On the directives of President of Pakistan and keeping the Prime Minister’s initiative in mind National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has submitted a comprehensive report on drought like situation in Sindh, containing short and long term recommendations and measures to the President Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office. The report has also been shared with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh and other stakeholders concerned for necessary action.
NDMA, being the lead federal agency has coordinated with NADRA in providing family data to PDMA Sindh / Relief Department, Sindh enabling them to distribute assistance packages among affected families in calamity hit areas. It also sought suggestions from PDMA Sindh if any additional relief assistance was required from Federal Government/NDMA. To alleviate the hardships/miseries of affected people, Recovery and Rehabilitation Directorate, of NDMA acts as “Drought Secretariat” to ensure timely, coordinated and smooth flow of information between all stakeholders.
Last month, NDMA in collaboration with PDMA Sindh, UNFPA and UNICEF conducted a one day seminar in Karachi to analyze the current drought like situation in eight (8) districts particularly the Tharparkar. The aim was to focus and plan short-term and long-term sustainable remedial measures to mitigate the sufferings of the drought affectees. Participants of the Consultative Seminar discussed in detail availability of water for human consumption/agriculture and livestock.
The issue of adverse impacts of drought on the livelihood and resultant migration were also discussed. The impacts of drought on health and state of nutrition of pregnant/lactating women and causes of child mortality were also discussed threadbare. The NDMA’s report warrants an immediate and proactive action to cope up with the drought situation in Sindh and parts of Balochistan which may get severe in the coming days due to prolonged dry spell predicted in many parts of the country. It is feared that prolonged dry spell may cause water stress in the cultivated lands/areas of the country due to limited supply of irrigation water for Kharif crops and may also aggravate the existing drought like conditions.
NDMA has planned a National Consultative Seminar in the second week of December at Islamabad to discuss intensity and extent of drought situation across Pakistan. The purpose is to formulate a comprehensive national strategy to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of drought. NDMA has sought sector-wise consolidated situation report as well as recommendations for future course of action from PDMAs/ DDMAs/ and Line Departments of the district facing drought like situation.
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