Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Pakistan's president Zardari visits a 'show camp'

 Channel 4

While filming on the Sukkar barrage bridge built across the Indus river, President Asif Ali Zardari arrived on his first visit to flooded areas since the catastrophe enveloped Pakistan two weeks ago, reports Jonathan Miller from the southern province of Sindh.

The only TV cameras accompanying the president were from state TV - it was a carefully stage-managed event. He briefly got out of his car to look at the water before being briefed by provincial officials.

President Zardari went on to visit a camp for displaced people but locals who we've spoken to insist that what he actually saw a "show camp". And yet all over this city of Sukkar there are encampments of people living rough all along the roadside.

We visited a camp wedged between a road and a canal and open to the elements. It is a unhealthy place with sick people and no hygiene to speak of. Today Save the Children warned that if this health crisis in Sindh is not tackled fast, millions of children will contract deadly diseases.

The government has said it will compensate flood victims but what's on offer wont match the value of homes, livestock and lost crops.

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