Helmand Kochis ask govt for shelter, pastures

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Kochi people — nomads — in southern Helmand province have complained against the lack of shelter and suitable pastures for their animals

Allah Dad, a nomad who set a tent on the side of Helmand river in Lashkargah City, told Pajhwok that he had no land and were not allowed to graze cattle and had no place for stay.

He said: “We don’t have land or a place to live, there is drought, Our cattle are hungry, we want the government to take care of our shelter and pastures for animals.”

Another nomad Jumma Gul also said that their land and pastures were confiscated in the previous regime and currently they did not have a suitable place to graze their animals.

He added: “The deserts and pastures of Nad Ali district are now all agricultural lands and people have usurped them. We don’t know where to go, no one will let us go.”

Kochi Affairs Director Maulvi Muhammad Gul acknowledged the problems of Nomads.

He added: “Nomads really don’t have a place for food, clean drinking water, school or clinic in their areas and they have many problems.”

Agriculture Department Official Eng. Abdul Kafi did not comment regarding the problems faced by Kochi people.

However, he said that kochi people faced some problems and he was trying to solve them.

He said: “Work is underway on two large water reservoirs for kochies and we want help from relevant institutions in this regard to find suitable pastures for nomads in rural areas.”

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