Eighty-year-old Imya Kolhu stands by her UNHCR tent in a relief camp for flood-affected communities in the Sanghar district of Sindh province.
UNHCR / S.Phelps

Pakistan floods bring further pain to a life marked by loss

SANGHAR, Pakistan, October 11 (UNHCR) – Imya Kolhu's life had already been touched by tragedy before her home was inundated. The floods which struck last month collapsed her house, fatally injuring her grandson and snatching away what little hope she had for the future.

A member of Pakistan's minority Hindu community, Imya now lives in a UNHCR tent in a relief settlement in the Sanghar district of Sindh province. "The day the floods struck was doomsday," she recalled. "I saw water rising to chest height. Everyone was on the run."

As the walls and roof of their mud home began to crumble, the family attempted to flee to higher ground. Her grandson, eight-year-old Ramesh, was struck by a falling door frame and later died of his injuries.

"The waters snatched everything I had – my grandson, my home, my possessions," Imya said, tearfully.

She and her elder grandson Khamisu, 14, spent the initial days after the tragedy living under the open sky without food and drink before walking 25 kilometres to the tent village at Sanghar.

Imya, who was widowed several years ago, had been caring for Ramesh and Khamisu since her son – their father – succumbed to illness.

For now Khamisu is her only hope. His used to supplement the family income by working in the cotton fields. The destruction of crops in the floods has left the family with little source of survival. "The water will take months to recede and we don't have anything to eat," Khamisu said.

Imya misses her village but will wait for the waters to recede before returning. Despite, or because of, the pain she has endured, she says she "has a strong emotional attachment" to the area.

The UN refugee agency has provided tents, relief kits and plastic sheets to 60 vulnerable Hindu families in the village of Zareen Khan, but people here still lack many basic services.

In southern Sindh, UNHCR has so far delivered 8,000 tents and 7,000 kits containing jerry cans, blankets, quilts, kitchen sets and sleeping mats as well as 12,000 plastic sheets to be used for basic shelter.

The agency has committed to supplying 70,000 tents and 70,000 emergency aid kits containing household items as well as other relief items to flood victims in Sindh.

"Ramesh used to call me mother," Imya recounted. "At night he would sleep beside me. Now, I sleep alone."

By Qaiser Khan Afridi in Sanghar, Pakistan

A man I only met a year ago and only had the honor of being around less than a handful of times, but he made an impression. This is a picture of Curtis' Fairlane the first time I saw it. It has an aluminum block 427 and fuel injected "stacks". He has a 57 Ford Custom 300 that is just as nice with the same engine. He also has a 69 Mustang with a Boss 429. That is Curtis standing at the rear of the car.

When we met, I was driving my 63 Falcon, also black with old style American mags, like his Fairlane only NOWHERE near as nice. When he saw me he said, "You're from Dahlonega ain't you?" I said yes. He then proceeded to tell me exactly where I lived. Said he had seen my car many times and would know it anywhere. Now, if that sounds like a stalker to you, then you just don't understand. If it sounds familiar to you, then you must be a car guy. Cars make impressions and when we see one we like, we remember it...we file it away and hold on to it. You never know when that information may come in handy.

Curtis and I had common ground and we both used it to our advantage. I had some wheels he wanted and he had some wheels I wanted...so we "did some tradin'..."

After spending a few hours at Curtis' shop, I invited him to a charity car show we were having that November. He said he'd be there if there was any way that he could. Usually I would not have expected much from a statement like that because I know more times than not, words are lighter than air. However, when Curtis said it, it almost felt like a promise. Two days before the show my phone rang and it was Curtis. I thought to myself that he was calling to tell me he couldn't make it. Instead he was calling to make sure it was still on and to let me know he'd be bringing some friends. I'll never forget that. Meant a lot to me.

Curtis was a car guy....and Curtis loved Fords and he had some nice ones. He will be missed.