BADIN: The holy month of Ramadan brought nothing but misery for over a million Pakistanis who fled for their lives when the recent rain-triggered floods washed away their homes, villages and livelihoods.
"How can we break the fast, when we have nothing to eat," asks Khateeja Khatoon, a mother of seven camped out under open skies.
The displaced and hungry people who watched flood waters swallow up their homes and crops wake up hungry everyday during the dawn-to-dusk fasting month in Pakistan.
Khatoon fled her village of Bhanbhaki in the southern province of Sindh, after flood that aid officials say has made more than a million people dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.
"We have nothing to eat, nothing to live in. We've been starving for days, so the start of Ramadan doesn't bring any joy.
"We used to celebrate Ramadan in a big way in our village, but my children and I are already starving. We need food, so we're already fasting in a way."
Last year's worst floods in the history put 21 million people facing direct or indirect harm. This time round too, officials warn that children are among the most vulnerable victims, with diarrhoea the biggest health threat.
"Our village drowned. Our homes and crops are ruined by floods. We are fighting a war of survival," said Amb, 50.
Living in the open in Khoski, Amb is desperate for his ten grandchildren who need urgent food assistance.
"It will be a great day when our children get food.
"I used to grow fruit and vegetables on my farm in a nearby village but now nobody is offering any help. Ramadan is a month of blessing, but no one is there to let us enjoy these blessings," he said with tears in his eyes. "All my memories seem to have been swept away by floods."
Authorities promised to provide cooked meals to flood victims during Ramadan and compensate families of those killed, but few on the ground said they had received assistance.
Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which features on a UN terrorism blacklist and whose involvement in relief has raised concerns in the United States, has also promised to provide iftar meals to the victims.
"We are helping out people in distress with all means available," said a Dawa relief worker.
Mohammad Hussain, 25, a labourer, says people feel betrayed by the government when they most need help.
"I never dreamt I'd be in such circumstances in the holy month. I fast for Allah during Ramadan but we're starving. The government is doing nothing to save our children from starvation."
Children also feel no excitement ahead of Eid-ul Fitr, the festival at the end of Ramadan traditionally celebrated with feasting, new clothes and cash gifts.
"We never celebrated with much joy because we're poor and can't afford expensive food, but at least we had food, shelter and water during Ramadan in the past," said 12-year-old Gul Mohammad.
"My father would bring us new clothes and shoes at Eid but not now. We left all of our belongings behind when our village flooded. It's difficult to survive, let alone celebrate."
"We're hungry and thirsty. My father and I tried to pick up labour but there are thousands like us on the streets hoping to earn something."
Devastating rains have triggered floods in southern Pakistan, affecting at least 1,200,000 people and forcing 100,000 from their homes, officials said.
Villages have been flooded and crops destroyed in Pakistan’s bread basket of Sindh province, one of the worst-hit areas in the unprecedented floods of 2010 that affected 21 million people and caused losses of $10 billion.
Tens of thousands of people are still living in emergency camps after last year’s floods and British charity Oxfam has accused Pakistan of failing to invest in prevention measures, making it vulnerable to further disaster.
Pakistan’s weak civilian government came under enormous criticism last year from victims of the floods who said ministers did little to help.
Last year's worst floods in the history put 21 million people facing direct or indirect harm. This time round too, officials warn that children are among the most vulnerable victims, with diarrhoea the biggest health threat.
"Our village drowned. Our homes and crops are ruined by floods. We are fighting a war of survival," said Amb, 50.
Living in the open in Khoski, Amb is desperate for his ten grandchildren who need urgent food assistance.
"It will be a great day when our children get food.
"I used to grow fruit and vegetables on my farm in a nearby village but now nobody is offering any help. Ramadan is a month of blessing, but no one is there to let us enjoy these blessings," he said with tears in his eyes. "All my memories seem to have been swept away by floods."
Authorities promised to provide cooked meals to flood victims during Ramadan and compensate families of those killed, but few on the ground said they had received assistance.
Islamic charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which features on a UN terrorism blacklist and whose involvement in relief has raised concerns in the United States, has also promised to provide iftar meals to the victims.
"We are helping out people in distress with all means available," said a Dawa relief worker.
Mohammad Hussain, 25, a labourer, says people feel betrayed by the government when they most need help.
"I never dreamt I'd be in such circumstances in the holy month. I fast for Allah during Ramadan but we're starving. The government is doing nothing to save our children from starvation."
Children also feel no excitement ahead of Eid-ul Fitr, the festival at the end of Ramadan traditionally celebrated with feasting, new clothes and cash gifts.
"We never celebrated with much joy because we're poor and can't afford expensive food, but at least we had food, shelter and water during Ramadan in the past," said 12-year-old Gul Mohammad.
"My father would bring us new clothes and shoes at Eid but not now. We left all of our belongings behind when our village flooded. It's difficult to survive, let alone celebrate."
"We're hungry and thirsty. My father and I tried to pick up labour but there are thousands like us on the streets hoping to earn something."
Devastating rains have triggered floods in southern Pakistan, affecting at least 1,200,000 people and forcing 100,000 from their homes, officials said.
Villages have been flooded and crops destroyed in Pakistan’s bread basket of Sindh province, one of the worst-hit areas in the unprecedented floods of 2010 that affected 21 million people and caused losses of $10 billion.
Tens of thousands of people are still living in emergency camps after last year’s floods and British charity Oxfam has accused Pakistan of failing to invest in prevention measures, making it vulnerable to further disaster.
Pakistan’s weak civilian government came under enormous criticism last year from victims of the floods who said ministers did little to help.
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