The poorest and most isolated regions of Pakistan are melting in the face of the worst drought in 50 years. With millions of people impacted, but the government squeezed by international donors, much of the relief work is being left to private agencies and street workers. PNS reporter Muddassir Rivzi reports from Islamabad for New California Media, an inter-ethnic media exchange founded by Pacific News Service.

ISLAMABAD -- "Please help your brothers and sisters in Sindh and Balochistan," says young Shabbir Ahmed as he approaches cars stopped at a busy corner here in the Pakistani capital.

Shabbir, an 8th grader, is one of hundreds of students who volunteer to collect donations after their regular school time to aid victims hit by the worst drought to hit southern Pakistan in 50 years. Undeterred by temperatures as high as 104 degrees, they collected more than $40,000 in a week.

At least three million people have been affected in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. In Balochistan, the country's largest but least populated province, the government has already declared 22 districts, or 80 percent of the area, a calamity and set up 44 relief camps.

The cash-starved Pakistani government is finding it hard to provide basic necessities for displaced people. "I appeal to all citizens of Pakistan and particularly all overseas Pakistanis to generously donate to the relief operations. I guarantee that whatever they donate will be used only on the rehabilitation of drought-hit people," said military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in a recent public appeal.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hundreds of people and several million head of livestock have already died due to drought. "The situation is expected to worsen as the monsoon season is several weeks away and little rain is forecast," says an FAO official here.

The UN has termed the situation "very critical." The organization is "prepared to access emergency funds so that we can position ourselves much more efficiently," according to UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan Onder Yucer. "There should be in place tracking mechanisms, an assessment mechanism and monitoring mechanism to be put together by the government of Pakistan."

Officials said the Pakistan government, currently under tight financial squeeze by international donors, does not have the resources to fund relief operations for more than a couple of months. "We have already allocated two billion rupees (around $40 million) for relief work. But more and more people are coming and government's own resources are fast exhausting," said an official spokesman.

Public donations may help the government meet the immediate needs of famine victims, but social welfare organizations are more concerned at the official apathy towards the long-term impacts of the drought.

"These people had been engaged in sustainable livelihoods and living in traditional tribal ways, but this calamity has now brought them to suburban camps, endangering their traditional lifestyles," commented a relief worker. "This calamity is a cultural rout for many tribals."

Another commented that the government is making no plan for the drought victims to return to their homes. "This drought has exposed the hollowness of the social security system in the country. We are spending huge amounts on preserving our external security but what about internal security -- food, security, environmental security, social security?"

Many social organizations believe that the government should utilize the donated money to address the long-term food security concerns and development of water resources in the country's least developed areas. Others call on the government to help broaden the economic base in those areas affected by drought.

While long-term strategy is discussed, victims of the calamity complain that official grants are not being efficiently utilized. A sizable number of people even blocked the main highway in Balochistan province in late May to protest the non-availability of relief goods the government has promised. "The government claims it is providing water, flour, milk and fodder for our remaining cattle, but actually we are not getting anything. Our cattle are dying," a protestor by the Karachi-based newspaper.

The government blames limited resources. "We cannot do it alone. We need the support and cooperation of non-governmental organizations and voluntary groups to reach the drought victims," said Balochistan Relief Commissioner Syed Abbas Shah.

Since the displaced cannot return unless their livelihoods are restored, -- 80 percent of Balochistan's residents earns livelihood through cattle breeding, but most of their cattle have died -- they will remain an official liability.

OXFAM, the United Nations, and both non-governmental organizations and political parties within Pakistan are running campaigns for the drought-hit people.

But many observers believe that in view of the growing magnitude of the drought, the government should devise a strategy to cope with future financial requirements for relief work. "Although the international community may find it difficult to help a military government, images of drought-stricken people should be enough for them to extend support in cash or kind. The government must issue an international appeal before it is too late," warned an activist of a welfare organization in Balochistan.