Two more children die in Tharparkar

Two children died in Civil Hospital of Mithi, the chief town of drought-hit Tharparkar district, today.

The death toll due to food shortage in the desert district of Thar has reached to 137 with the death of two more children.

The area continues to suffer food shortage due to severe drought for a long time.

Scarce rainfall and the government’s inability to ensure food supplies in the region causes malnutrition in mothers which results in serious health problems in newborn children.

Scores of children have been admitted at hospitals in the region and many said to be in a precarious condition.

The government of Pakistan People’s Party in Sindh headed by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah faces scathing criticism from the opposition and the public for its failure to ensure food supplies to Thar region and its alleged lethargy to tackle the drought situation in the arid district.

The Thar desert, straddling the Indian border and one of Pakistan’s poorest areas, has seen an alarming number of children suffering pneumonia or diarrhoea due to a dangerous mix of drought, poverty and poor health infrastructure.