News
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Crime adds to misery of flood victimsMEHMOODKOT: Crime and the sale of donated aid supplies are undermining the aid effort for flood victims.
In Peshawar, flour bags and tins of cooking oil bearing the logos of international aid agencies like the World Food Programme and USAID are openly on sale. “We bought them from the victims,” said shopkeeper Abdul Ghafoor, who owns a shop in Peshawar’s Gur Mandi. “They get money and buy something else which they need more.”
“It cannot happen without officials’ involvement,” said another shopkeeper, Rahimullah Khan. “Victims cannot bring a truck full of supplies here.”
“I can save Rs 300 per 50 kg bag of flour. A customer prefers to buy it because of its better quality and low price,” said flour dealer Najeeb Ahmed Khan.
Government officials are attempting to tackle the situation.
District authorities have raided and sealed two warehouses where stolen aid supplies were found, and made two arrests.
“We have formed a committee to check these illegal activities, but it’s sad that such an act is being carried out,” said district government official Siraj Ahmed.
In Punjab, villagers say people living outside flood-affected areas have stolen from houses abandoned by the flood victims. A 27-year-old villager in MehmoodKot, Rana Farmanullah, saw robbers arriving on boats to loot the villagers’ belongings.
“They took away everything,” he said. “They were taking valuables and electrical equipment. They stole washing machines, standing fans, refrigerators, small electrical devices and jewellery.”
In Bhakkar, fisherman were found removing valuable components from boat engines, worried they could get stolen as well. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk