PAKISTAN: About 500,000 fishermen will be jobless due to the government’s unlawful long-term lease of two Islands to a company

Food Justice January 29, 2007 No comments

The AHRC was informed that the Federal Government of Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stated a 99-year lease on twin Islands namely Bhudal and Bhuddo located in Karachi city, Sindh province to Dubai based Emaar Properties PJSC Company in September 2006. The company has a project to rename the islands Diamond Bar City and construct high-rises, residential resorts, hotels, casinos and a 1.5 Kilometer bridge connecting the islands to Karachi city over the next 13 years at a total cost of US$ 43.135 billion. After the MOU, the said company reportedly demolished some 1,000 fishermen’s huts with the help of the police and the army in October 2006. It is alleged that 35 villagers were arrested and a 5-year-old boy was killed during the demolition. Read more about PAKISTAN: About 500,000 fishermen will be jobless due to the government’s unlawful long-term lease of two Islands to a company …

INDIA: Government sleeps over 386 confirmed cases of Fluorosis in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh state

Food Justice January 26, 2007 No comments

The Gram Swarajya Samithi conducted a survey in nine villages located in Chopan, Dudhi and Myorpur blocks and identified the cases mentioned above. There are are concerns that at least 36,000 persons will soon become handicapped in the very near future if nothing is done to improve the situation. On an earlier initiative by the Samithi, scientists from the Indian Council for Medical Research lead by Dr. Chandra Kumar Dolla and Dr. Surendra Kumar took samples of water from the tube-wells of the region for detailed tests between 20 and 24 July 2004. Though the results of the tests were not made available after several requests by the Samithi, they were informed that the tests conducted by the scientists revealed that the fluoride content in the water samples showed at levels at least five to six times the normal values. Read more about INDIA: Government sleeps over 386 confirmed cases of Fluorosis in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh state …

INDIA: The ‘blame game’ continues between state officials and local authorities over the starvation deaths of 8 persons

Food Justice September 25, 2006 No comments

The victims; Moral Hembram, Bidoy Hembram, Mongla Mardi, Som Besra, Sundari Hembram, Malati Kisku, Dharni Murmu and Ghasirena Tudu; were all members of the so-called “backward classes” of caste-conscious India. Read more about INDIA: The ‘blame game’ continues between state officials and local authorities over the starvation deaths of 8 persons …

INDIA: Children dying of starvation due to uninterested government officials

Food Justice July 28, 2006 No comments

Nine-month-old Seema Musahar died this morning, July 28 in Belwa village, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh after desperate attempts of her mother, 35-year-old Laxmi Musahar to get help for her infant at the local health centre and other places. As the AHRC mentioned in a statement issued yesterday July 27 (AS-180-2006), Laxmi had to pawn her two saris to a neighbour to get some money with which to take her child to get treatment, but still this was not enough to save her. Read more about INDIA: Children dying of starvation due to uninterested government officials …

PAKISTAN: Government neglect in drought-affected region leaves thousands malnourished in Tharparkar District

Food Justice May 25, 2006 No comments

The current drought in Tharparkar has left many villagers suffering from malnutrition and other hunger-related illnesses. The villagers rely on the consumption of milk from livestock as their primary source of food but the drought has killed off a larger number of animals, and milk production has severely dwindled. Livestock comprises of almost 80 percent of the district’s economy, and the shortage of animals has also significantly decreased the villagers’ purchasing power. Thus, the victims can neither rely on animal husbandry and farming in the village as a source of food, nor can they afford to buy food in the markets. Potable water also does not exist in the area anymore as most of the ground wells have gone dry. This has increased the incidence of malnutrition and the young, elderly and pregnant being more susceptible. Read more about PAKISTAN: Government neglect in drought-affected region leaves thousands malnourished in Tharparkar District …

AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to health

Food Justice May 11, 2006 No comments

The right to health is a fundamental human right, however thousands of asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking asylum in Australia are denied the right to adequate medical facilities by the Australian Government. Under AustraliaÂ¡Â¦s harsh refugee policy, thousands of asylum seekers are forced to live in the community on a Bridging Visa E (BVE) whilst they await the outcome of their Protection Visa Application, a visa that requires the determination of the refugee status of the applicant under section 36 of the Migration Act 1958. Bridging Visa EÂ¡Â¦s deny asylum seekers the right to work, free or subsidised Government-sponsored medical services (Medicare), and access to income. As a result of this, when an asylum seekers falls ill, they have neither the financial means to seek medical treatment or access to the countryÂ¡Â¦s Medicare services. This is resulting in many asylum seekers, who are suffering from health related illnesses, being forced to suffer in silence. Read more about AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to health …

INDIA: Failure of Public Distribution System in Barabanki District, Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice May 9, 2006 No comments

The 200 villagers from Nindura congregated in response to a promise made by local block officials to resolve the problems of the PDS shop and its functionality by April 19, 2006. The group additionally called on the local authorities not only to provide ration cards to those who are not receiving any assistance, but to also allot new Ration Shops in the Dadera and Odoria villages (gram panchayat). Furthermore, the villagers also complained that the local village council leaders (gram pradhan) and Secretary were demanding bribes for the distribution of Anntoyoda, Annapurna, and Below Poverty Line ration cards in those villages, as well as in Munimpur. To date, no ration cards of any kind have been provided to the victims, who are all suffering from the lack of food, despite their eligibility. Read more about INDIA: Failure of Public Distribution System in Barabanki District, Uttar Pradesh …

AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to food

Food Justice April 28, 2006 No comments

The right to food is a fundamental human right, however thousands of asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking asylum in Australia are denied the right to food by the Australian Government. Under Australias harsh refugee policies, thousands of asylum seekers are forced to live in the community on a Bridging Visa E (BVE) whilst they await the outcome of their Protection Visa Application, a visa that requires the determination of the refugee status of the applicant under section 36 of the Migration Act 1958. Bridging Visas deny asylum seekers the right to work, free or subsidized Government-sponsored medical services (Medicare), and access to income. Read more about AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to food …

UPDATE (Pakistan): Violence imminent over Lyari Expressway construction in Karachi

Food Justice April 10, 2006 No comments

As reported in our January appeal (HA-01-2006) the Lyari Expressway, which will be 16 kilometres long and is expected to bring in Rs. 400 million of revenue, was originally proposed to alleviate several problems including the erosion of the Lyari riverbeds and traffic congestion in the area. But at what cost? Owing to the construction of the expressway, thousands of people have already been forcibly evicted from their homes, with few having received appropriate alternative living arrangements or compensation for their loss. As a result, thousands have been forced onto the streets without adequate food, shelter, heating or water. Read more about UPDATE (Pakistan): Violence imminent over Lyari Expressway construction in Karachi …

UPDATE (India): More starvation deaths, more lies in Murshidabad, West Bengal

Food Justice March 31, 2006 No comments

Mr. Jayram Singh, from the Pakurdiar Village, had been suffering from severe malnutrition and was in critical condition when his wife, Ms. Bisni Mal, died in late January from starvation. His son, Bhadu Singh, had been away from the home when Bisni passed away. Bhadu returned home a few days later to find his father rapidly deteriorating in health. In an attempt to get help for his father, Bhadu approached the Block Development Office (BDO) in Jalangi and the head of the village administration for some food assistance and a Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card. However, he received no help and his father died from the lack of food three days later. Read more about UPDATE (India): More starvation deaths, more lies in Murshidabad, West Bengal …