Mai Nooran and her family were among the few remaining people who left their village. She had to live for more than a week alongside the road with no shelter.Mai Nooran, 80, “I waited for my son, Dost Muhammad, who took our cattle (four goats and a buffalo) at around 4am and told us to wait until he got back. Never in my life have I seen this much water entering like a monster in our houses and ruining everything we had before our eyes”.
After waiting for an hour for her son to return she told her daughter in-law and five grandchildren to get ready to move.
“My daughter in-law was reluctant to move without Dost Muhammad but I told her if we wait here we might lose the children as I am too old to carry them if the water level increases”.Nooran and her family were among the few remaining people who left their village. She had to live for more than a week alongside the road with no shelter.
“In the beginning I had no other concern but of Dost Muhammad. We were hungry and tired, the children were scared and adding more worries by asking for food and water”.
She waited there for a week and decided to move as she heard a few people talking about camps in Sukkur city.
“I moved only in a hope to find Dost Muhammad in these camps”.
After travelling for hours she made it to the camp organised by CARE with its partner near Rohi Bypass. There are approximately 300 families living in this camp. CARE, with its partners, is providing health care, food and other essential items.
Nooran saw people she knew from her own village and started to ask everyone if they had seen Dost Muhammad – no one had.
“I was satisfied that the children and their mother had a safer place to live with food and other primary needs provided by the camp but all I wanted was to see my son”.
Mai Nooran was eventually told by a fellow villager that Dost Muhammad was in Balochistan.
“I’m so happy that my son is alive and coming soon, Allah shukar (Thank God)”.
When asked if she is worried for the livestock she lost, she said: “Dost Muhammad is coming and he will find them, I hope when I return, I find my animals too like I found Dost Muhammad”.
Mai Nooran is one of many villagers who lost their livestock, the sole source of income for many. Initial recovery is helpful but the greater challenge is yet to come. Reconstruction of semi and completely damaged houses will help them start their lives again.
Help with disaster relief: Donate to our Rapid Response Fund.
