Thar famine death toll mounts to 172

ISLAMABAD: Four more children lost their lives in the drought-hit Thar Desert Thursday raising the death toll to 172 in 49 days while more than 250 children have been admitted to several hospitals of the district for treatment.

Two children died at the Civil Hospital Mithi while two others died in Nagarparkar and its adjoining area, private news channel reported.

The deceased included an eight-month-old Yaqoob one-year-old Sunita and two infants.

On the other hand, two children have been shifted to Hyderabad in critical condition.

Meanwhile, malnourished families have started migrating to Badin and other areas as Tharparkar no longer has fodder for their cattle.

The locals are migrating to Thar’s adjoining areas for fodder and due to Sindh government’s inadequate measures.

Tharparkar is a home to more than 60 lakh cattle which provide source of income to residents.

However, locals have started migrating to other areas as fodder for their cattle is all consumed before the expected time.

According to the WHO guidelines if the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children and women is above 15 percent it is to be considered an emergency situation. During the National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2011, the GAM rate in Sindh is 17.5 percent and the Severely Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is 6.6 percent.