QUETTA: Cholera outbreaks are harmful even when not accompanied by a water deficit and lack of healthcare. But in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti area, Pirkoh is experiencing all three.
This remote community, home to a major Oil and Gas Development Company Limited plant, is facing an epidemic and severe water shortage.
Noor Bugti, one of the activists who recently took to the streets to seek attention for the community’s problems, presented a disturbing example.
“The family of a little girl who died in the town struggled to get water for her funeral,” he recalls.
“If there’s no water for the dead, how can we drink?” he wonders.
Cholera has killed over six people, including three children. Locals say this figure is low.
This is reality of #PirKoh, sub Tehsil of Sui near #DeraBugti. People in scores are suffering from cholera, protesting & demanding clean drinking water which is scarce. Tubewells/Boring doesn't work in the are and water has to be sources from great distances @AQuddusBizenjo pic.twitter.com/kG6EgdeT3H
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) May 15, 2022
Baloch are slaves: Pakistan is exploiting gas reserves for its necessities from #Sui #DeraBugti, yet Baloch are dying of minor diseases. The recent wave of cholera has taken 15 innocents lives. Hundreds are effected but no medical facility and assistance is provided. #Balochistan pic.twitter.com/CT3AlZL3Pb
— DrNaseemBaluch (@DrNaseemBaluch) May 13, 2022
Dr. Azam Bugti, the district health officer, told that the first case of cholera was reported on April 17, but they did not receive test results from Islamabad until the end of last month.
He claims 2,249 instances have been handled and there are now 38 patients. “Everything’s in control,” he says.
Locals oppose
Nearly two dozen deaths have been attributed to this outbreak, which is far from ‘under control’
The DHO disputes these statements, saying that community awareness of the condition is nonexistent.
“Some patients have fled away from hospitals or self-discharged,” he says.
Whether these assertions are true or not, this community of nearly 40,000 has no formal water supply.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo allowed Rs300 million in emergency financing for water supply projects in the Dera Bugti district this month.
For now, residents must solicit contributions and buy water from tankers at a hefty cost of Rs3,500 per truck.
Gul Zar Bugti, an activist reported he is organising water trucks for the thirsty locals. The funds he has raised will pay for tankers to come from Dera Bugti, a 15km journey over hilly and rocky roads. But these tankers are pricey and temporary, putting them out of reach of most communities.
Gul Zar Bugti tells that the town’s water deficit began in 2015.
“Projects that can meet Pirkoh’s water demands have been announced, but they’re on paper only,” he says, blaming government corruption.
He believes this is why his village is separated from water supplies and uses rainwater.
پیر کوہ ہسپتال میں آج ہیضے کے 400 نئے مریض داخل۔ عوام کو فوری مدد کی ضرورت ہے۔ دوستوں نے آج ہسپتال میں مریضوں اور بچوں کو منرل واٹر اور کھانا فراہم کیا ہے۔#Pirkoh_ko_pani_do #PirKohNeedWater pic.twitter.com/EhsSvCKkh3
— Kiyya Baloch (@KiyyaBaloch) May 15, 2022
The administration was amazed by him and his fellow campaigners
After the demonstrations, which went viral on social media, the Balochistan health secretary visited Pirkoh and the Prime Minister ordered immediate aid for Dera Bugti locals.
Will these initiatives provide long-term alleviation for locals?
They’re hopeful yet pessimistic. But seeing is believing.
Works at The Truth International Magazine. My area of interest includes international relations, peace & conflict studies, qualitative & quantitative research in social sciences, and world politics. Reach@ aimen.bukhari@tti.org.pk
