Elders of the Sikh community have said that the floods have swept away at least 50 shops belonging to their community in Nowshera, and left a large number homeless.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, leaders of the All Minority Alliances Frontier, Dr Sahib Singh, Sardar Vijay Singh and Baba Hermit Singh said that at least 300 families had suffered due to the deteriorating situation in Tirah, Bara, Orakzai. He said that the families were forced to shift to Peshawar, but with a loss of belongings, business and income sources.
“The rest of the minority communities usually come to the streets to protest when facing problems, but we never opted to do. The government however, is now forcing us”, Sahib Singh warned.
He also complained that the internally displaced Sikhs were even not registered as IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) in the past despite the fact that they were also targeted by terrorists.
The Sikh representatives also gave details of the 13 Sikh individuals, who remained stranded for 3 days on their rooftops to avoid flood waters. They urged the authorities to alleviate the people’s sufferings.
Meanwhile, the Chairman National Disaster Management Authority, Lt Gen (Retd) Nadeem Ahmed claimed that international relief aid for the flood affected people was negligible in terms of meeting the crisis.
However, the international community’s pledges are pouring in for flood survivors. The European Commission announced 30 million euros for flood victims.
The Australian government announced the doubling of its aid to approximately 750 million rupees.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/37800/sikhs-criticise-government-apathy-during-floods/
Speaking at a press conference held at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, leaders of the All Minority Alliances Frontier, Dr Sahib Singh, Sardar Vijay Singh and Baba Hermit Singh said that at least 300 families had suffered due to the deteriorating situation in Tirah, Bara, Orakzai. He said that the families were forced to shift to Peshawar, but with a loss of belongings, business and income sources.
“The rest of the minority communities usually come to the streets to protest when facing problems, but we never opted to do. The government however, is now forcing us”, Sahib Singh warned.
He also complained that the internally displaced Sikhs were even not registered as IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) in the past despite the fact that they were also targeted by terrorists.
The Sikh representatives also gave details of the 13 Sikh individuals, who remained stranded for 3 days on their rooftops to avoid flood waters. They urged the authorities to alleviate the people’s sufferings.
Meanwhile, the Chairman National Disaster Management Authority, Lt Gen (Retd) Nadeem Ahmed claimed that international relief aid for the flood affected people was negligible in terms of meeting the crisis.
However, the international community’s pledges are pouring in for flood survivors. The European Commission announced 30 million euros for flood victims.
The Australian government announced the doubling of its aid to approximately 750 million rupees.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/37800/sikhs-criticise-government-apathy-during-floods/
