Get Over It!

I know this is not my usual time to write blog, but here I am. Just returned from a beautiful wedding and had a wonderful time with even more wonderful people; so feeling quite energetic and decided to say what I wanted say.

Today met some true Pakistanis who are doing a commendable job in the famous desert area of Sindh, Thar. Thar is mostly famous for its most intriguing deserts but this time it has become far more popular due to the gross suffering of its people.

We always hear that there is shortage of water in Thar; however, these days the condition has gone from bad to worse. Thar is an area which does not see much of the rain and when there is rainfall people stalk water in wells.

The unfortunate situation is that the water that is stored in those wells become contaminated with fungus, paramecium and frogs making it unusable let alone undrinkable. Yet people along with animals from all nearby villages drink that contaminated water.

With the passage of time and thanks to the ‘Pay No Attention’ policy of the concerned authorities the situation is worsening daily. 70 % of our bodies are made with water and we need to keep it hydrated in order to maintain the proper working of all internal organs. However, in Thar due to this shortage serious health problems are arising, from dehydration (especially in little children), kidney failure to severe skin problems.

By the way, this skin problem is not acne or sensitive skin type issue rather due to dehydration the skin gets so dry that it cracks and automatically tear apart in pieces.

The water which is available is too far from the people that they have to walk miles from their homes in the scorching, burning heat of desert before they can even get a glimpse of few drops.

The regular size leather bucket in the well from which they take out the water can only be pulled by the help of at least eight people. After hours of huge effort when people do get some water it is severely contaminated yet having no other option they are forced to drink it.

Then there is also shortage of food, basic hygiene requirements and timely medical aid. Death toll among children is raising at an alarming rate and the ones who are alive are barely surviving and mostly waiting when it is their turn.

Few NGOs like Ehsaas Trust and KGNWT (Khawaja Gharib Nawaz Welfare Trust) are amongst those groups who are trying their best to control water contamination and provide food. They have installed R.O. (Reverse Osmosis) Plant at some areas in Thar which is catering to 300 people from the neighbouring villages. This plant purifies the contaminated water by removing salt and every other harmful element from water and making it drinkable.

Nevertheless, they need help and support from all of us to maintain the working of the current plant and also to install further plants. Please do contribute as much as it is possible in helping our brothers, sisters and little children so they can live a life a human being truly deserves.

Please make sure that the NGOs’ you will  be funding are doing their job honestly because many alleged helpers go to Thar only for a photo session where they show the food to those desperate people, take pictures and then run away from the place along with all the food they apparently brought for the villagers.   

After hearing all this I have made a resolution to myself that from today onwards whenever I am faced with a challenge in my life I will tell myself ‘Sonya, get over it!’, because whatever problems we have in our lives is nothing compared to the thirst of water.

We have the luxury of clean drinking water, yes it is a luxury. We have the luxury of drinking water as and when we feel like; just wait for few minutes when we are thirsty and you will see that thirst can easily raise our temper. 

We cannot even imagine walking from one room to another in intense thirst, and we have the audacity to take our blessings so lightly as if they are our birth-right.

I apologize if I have upset anyone but this issue has touched some deep cord within me and I am angry at myself and everyone who is responsible for such gross negligence that it is killing people on daily basis.

Let us join hands and do something before its too late.

Good Night!

Sonya Syed. (Day 474)