'Natural calamities severely affected civic infrastructure'

Sindh Minister for Health, Dr Saghir Ahmed, on Friday said floods and torrential rains that hit the province in 2010 and 2011 had severely affected its civic infrastructure. Talking to the Representative of International Committee of Red Cross, Sindh and Balochistan, Peter Lick, he said this was besides the fact that thousands of families were uprooted and crops standing over vast acres of land were destroyed.
The episodes of natural disaster in Sindh was exposed to at brief intervals also led to absolute collapse of several of the healthcare facilities managed by the provincial government, said the Minister.
Dr Saghir said in a situation when people have started leaving relief camps and returning back to their homes government is faced with the major challenge of "rehabilitation" of the people as well as the infrastructure. "We need support of the international community to handle the challenge," he said. The Minister on the occasion appreciated contribution made by international donor agencies towards relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in the province.
He said International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has always extended timely assistance to the people of the province exposed to any disaster as during past two years. ICRC Representative, Peter Lick, informed the Minister about the relief work undertaken by the organisation and assured him of all needed support for rehabilitation of the people.