ASIA/PAKISTAN - Flood victims being subject to more than just rising waters

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – The victims of the worst humanitarian tragedy in 80 years have now fallen pray to bandits and traffickers who have taken advantage of the flooding in Pakistan that is ravaging the fertile ground, to carry out criminal activity. This is what Fides has learned from humanitarian organizations operating in Pakistan for refugee relief.
While there are an estimated 20 million displaced persons, including at least 4 million children, criminal organizations are seeking to take advantage of the social drama in place in order to heighten human trafficking. Fides sources note that amidst the situation of disorientation and chaos, continuous disorganized movement of refugees, of people wandering aimlessly, families struggling for survival, traffickers have found an easy means for kidnapping women and children. The phenomenon is especially on the rise in the region of Sindh, which has become “a hub for traffickers,” said a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission. Criminals are taking advantage of these days in which the infrastructures for accommodation of refugees are poor and the military and civilian police forces are working on containing the effects of the tragedy. The main victims are young women and children inside - the easiest to find and deceive. They are sold and enslaved or initiated into sexual exploitation. "Wherever natural disasters occur or where there are major crises that create masses of refugees, it is easy for families to be separated and oftentimes many children remain unprotected, dispersed among the displaced, easy prey for criminals," says Tahmina Rashid, professor of human development in Canberra (Australia) and expert in the human rights situation in Pakistan.
To counter this alarming phenomenon, some NGOs such as "World Vision," already active in the area of humanitarian assistance, are creating special centers reserved for women and children who are orphaned or have lost contact with their families of origin, in order to promote family reunification. The centers identify unaccompanied children and try to find their families.
In addition to the traffickers, there are also gangs of looters in action. Local sources of Fides note that many of the displaced people are trying however they can to return to their homes to defend their property from bandits. The refugee families, mostly farmers, have been forced to abandon homes, land, livestock, property, food supplies, everything necessary for their survival. The Pakistani army said it has arrested at least 20 people who, once the flooding had stopped, were intent on plundering the damaged areas, especially in central Sindh.
Tales of robbery and looting have begun to circulate among the refugees who are living – at best – in camps, thus creating fears and concern that the tension will increase. Humanitarian aid is not yet sufficient to cover the needs and it reaches only a fraction of the displaced. Experts also predict a possible cholera epidemic that could further escalate the crisis. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/18/2010)