EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS COMMUNITY IN SINDH, PAKISTAN

1. Mill Hill in Sindh, Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad

The Kutchi Kholi and Parkhari Kholi tribes are among the outcaste communities within the southern part of Pakistan. They are primarily Hindus. The vast majority of them work in bonded labour as landless sharecroppers for the feudal landlords. They borrow money from their feudal landlord to pay the rent of tractors and to buy seed, insecticides and fertilizers. This means debt straight away. If the crop is good, they are supposed to get half of the profit, but since a number of them are not well educated, and cannot do the basic mathematics, they are mostly cheated by their landlords whose book-keeping is always dishonest. If the crop is bad and failed to produce due to water shortage, disease, or flooding, the entire debt remains on them and they will have to borrow again to survive and to buy seed for the next crop. If they move to another landlord, the debt is transferred to them, making these people bonded labourers from the first day despite the incessant back-breaking work by all the family including children.

Mill Hill Missionaries have a dedicated mission to these tribal peoples, especially the Kutchi Kholis and Parkhari Kholis. Currently, the Mill Hill team members reach out to the people in four mission stations within the diocese, that is, Tando Adam (Dennis Hartnett) Tando Allahyar (Edson and Zaheus), Matli(Reynel Tanalgo and Rebenie Madar), and Kotri (Brendan Mulhall).

2. The Current situation

For the last few weeks, the country had been experiencing a high inflation rate that has affected the life of the people. Many people find it challenging to have even one meal a day.

Furthermore, this year, from mid-July onwards, the monsoon rains have fallen almost daily without a break. At first, the rains were welcomed, especially by farmers, since many were facing water a shortage for the cotton, rice and sugar cane crops. Now however, the situation has changed completely, and we have gone from a situation of drought to a deluge. Record amounts of rain have fallen in many parts of Sindh. The 36 hours of continues heavy rain on August 18th 2022, badly affected the 13 District of Sindh. Tando Allayar, Miporkhas, Nawabsha, Tando

Muhammad khan and Badin district are among the 13 districts in Sindh badly affected of the monsoon rain this year. These districts are affected badly by the flood because of the heavy rain.

All our Mill Hill Parishes in Hyderabad Diocese are belong to these 13 districts which have been badly affected. It is noted that hundreds of families have been displaced. Flood waters have forced them to leave their mud walled dwellings, many of which have collapsed.

They have had to move to nearby higher ground or canal banks. Many of our parishioners are day labourers, working especially in the sowing, weeding and harvesting of various crops.

At this time of year cotton picking is the main source of income for thousands of our families. However, many cotton fields are waterlogged and the crop is just wilting. In many places it is completely destroyed, so they have no source of income. They had already been struggling to cope with the severe increases in cost of many daily necessities such as flour, cooking oil, rice, tea, as well as fruit and vegetables. There are swarms of flies and mosquitoes everywhere, and this has led to a huge increase in diarrhea and stomach problems, and to increased cases of malaria. Every day, we have many people coming looking for food rations, since they have nothing to eat .Many also request medical help. There is no doubt that in the coming days and weeks they face tough challenges.

3. Appeal

The people are desperately needed of foods, clean water, Mosquito Nets and medicines. Therefore, on behalf of my members here in Sindh we humbly request to consider our emergency appeal to support our people here who are victims of flood and rains. Your donations will be big blessings for our flood victim families.

Be assured of our prayers.

Be blessed.

Yours Sincerely

Fr. Reynel Tanalgo, mhm

Society Representative. Sindh