The Sindh government, Pakistani army, Rangers, police, NGOs and philanthropists are working to bring goods and medical assistance to the district.
Though drought is an annual occurrence in the district, this year's has been particularly harsh, and has contributed to the deaths of more than 100 children.
Government data indicate that the area has recorded a rainfall deficit of 30% in the past year and that some towns have not reported any rain in months, according to a report on medicalxpress.com.
The problem was exacerbated by a breakdown in the ability to get relief goods to those in need.
After an investigation into that problem, the Sindh government March 11 sacked Relief Department Provincial Minister Makhdoom Jamil-ul-Zaman and Relief Commissioner Lala Fazl Rehman and named Taj Haider, advisor to the Sindh chief minister, acting relief commissioner.
Providing relief to hard-hit areas
Haider set up his camp office in Mithi, one of the five worst affected tehsils of Tharparkar District, and has accelerated relief and rehabilitation work.
Malnutrition, pneumonia and chickenpox have claimed children's lives and the Sindh government has sent several truckloads of relief goods, medicines and doctors to the hard-hit Mithi, Islamkot, Nangarparkar, Chachro and Diplo areas, Haider said.
"Our teams have provided wheat to 100,000 families in the past three days, and within the next few days, we will reach out to another 150,000 families who need our support," he added.
Dealing with annual drought conditions
The provincial government is also working to implement a programme to overcome the root causes of annual drought.
"In my first meeting with the provincial government officials March 12, I pointed out that relief is not a solution ... and that we will have to enforce a rehabilitation programme to end this chronic issue," Haider said.
Meanwhile, "We are working out a comprehensive programme to ensure that the people of the area get safe drinking water, employment, health and education on a regular basis," he added.
As part of that effort, the Pakistani army recently donated its one-day food ration to drought survivors and army medical teams are helping the victims, a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations said March 12.
Pakistani Rangers also sent trucks loaded with food packets containing flour, pulses, rice, ghee, milk, tea, juices, biscuits and drinking water for more than 4,000 families, Maj. Sibtain, Rangers spokesman in Karachi, said in a statement March 12. And Rangers' medical teams have treated more than 2,000 patients in the make-shift hospitals in Tharparkar District in the past two weeks.
The private sector has also stepped up.
Bahria Town, Pakistan's biggest private real estate company, announced a Rs. 200m (US $2m) relief package for drought-affected families in the region.
Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz's own personally hired welfare workers are distributing goods, Malik said March 12.
"We are also giving cash to affected families ... to support them in their difficult time," Malik said.
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