South Asia Human Rights Journalist Association

December 27, 2013: At least 40 Muslim children below the age of 12 years have perished in the relief camps for people displaced during the anti-Muslim riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Indian state Utter Pardesh.
While the records of the Muslim community, which is running, the camps privately say 40 children have died of cold in all relief camps put together.
According to a high-level committee constituted by the UP government to look into the reported deaths, revealed that the deaths occurred between September 7 and December 20, 2013. According to the report, 4,783 people are still living in five camps including one in Loi (Muzaffarnagar) and Madarsa Taimul Shah, Malakpur, Barnavi and Edgah (all in Shamli).
 “It was not his time to die,” says 38-year-old Dilshana mourning the loss of her five-month-old baby boy. He died exactly a month ago of biting cold conditions at the Malakpur relief camp.
The situation hasn’t changed much since the infant passed away on November 26 when his mother was still trying to reach the Shamli district hospital, 16 km from the camp.
At the community health centre in nearby Kirana town, there was no oxygen to pull the child back to safety. “I did not have the time to save him. He died in my arms,” says Dilshana. With medical facilities still non-existent, harsh winters continue to claim lives of children in Muzaffarnagar’s relief camps. The most recent casualty was four-year-old Khushnuma who died on December 3 within days of developing symptoms of pneumonia. Preceding her was Firdaus, all of five days.
Stories of agony abound in camps spread across Shamli and Muzaffarnagar districts of western UP, which witnessed anti-Muslim clashes in September this year.
Dulshad Khan, a manager at Malakpur camp, has compiled a list of 33 deceased children with the dates of demise. “Our children died of cold. These were not natural deaths and we want the families to be compensated for the loss. But the state administration is so apathetic, it is asking parents for post-mortem reports or death certificates. Which family residing in these camps would have the means to fulfill such absurd demands?” he asks.
Located in the backyard of most camps, including Malakpur, these graveyards tell a tale of human agony. They stand testimony to the deaths of children with family members still in a state of mourning like Haji Islam whose granddaughter Khushnuma died recently. He goes daily to her grave to pray for the peace of her soul.
“She looked as pretty in death as in life,” says the 70-something man who lost his home and hearth in the riot in Bahaman Khaidi village. Khushnuma’s mother Nagma can’t even pray at the burial site as the religion prohibits women from entering graveyards.
“I can’t forget her smiling face,” says Nagma. She has for consolation Istikar Khan and Mumtaz who lost their two-month daughter to unsparing winters recently. This was the couple’s second child to die of disease at the camp.
That’s a terrible situation considering most families with an average of eight people have half the bedding they require to fight the harsh winters.
The Uttar Pradesh Government owned up to the deaths of 34 children of riot-hit families living in the relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas as against 39 such deaths reported in the media.
Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) in Srinagar in its statement  said that KEA has been shaken by most inhuman, cruel and horrific events that have taken place in Muzaffarnagar and its vicinity in India.
“KEA has also been taken aback by the insensitivity of the people of India in general and the leaders of political parties in particular to these events. Media’s blackout in reporting the events candidly and explicitly is not only a serious matter but an indicator of its being tacit supporters of one particular communities who were involved in the barbaric riots,” statement added.
“Children of Muzaffarnagar living in relief camps are dying due to lack of relief and amenities. No one in India is bothered to provide them with basic amenities and medical help,” statement said.
The sexual violence which was faced by the Muslim women at the hands of rapists and molesters speaks volumes about the plight of Muslims in India, statement further said, adding that, “The events reported are reliving the events and horrors of 2002 Gujarat.” Statement said that KEA salutes the resilience and struggle of Muslim women and their courage to live with dignity and honor.