Eid gifts for storm affected farmers

A day before the annual Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, Caritas Pakistan distributed relief and food packages among farmers affected by recent windstorms in south Punjab.

160 families of small farmers received the emergency aid on June 4 at Chak (village) Patyat in Rajanpur District. All of them lost their standing crops when torrential rain and strong winds struck southern and central Punjab province this April. The disaster destroyed an estimated 150,000 tons of wheat. The Eid package contained flour and food items for two weeks. Muslim farmers thanked the staff of diocesan unit in Multan for reaching them in time for Eid that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Speaking on the occasion, Caritas Pakistan Executive Director Mr. Amjad Gulzar said that the distribution aimed at showing “genuine solidarity” for the affected farmers. “Besides losing their source of food and income, the poor farm workers are now under heavy loans to get new seed. The tragedy remained limited to small pockets and thus could not get the media hype,” he said.

The contribution may not be much and losses are much higher. As members of the single human family, we share sorrows and joys of our Muslim brothers.” Similar distributions were held in other dioceses as well.

Caritas Pakistan Lahore distributed Eid packages among 40 farmer families on June 5 at Mahal Ibne Village of Pasrur District. Caritas Pakistan Faisalabad distributed food packages, fodder and seeds among 140 families on June 6 at a government school of Peerkot village in Jhang District. The school principal and officials from social welfare department appreciated these efforts.