Pakistan is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history. Millions of people are trying to get free food.

At least 11 people, all women and children, were killed during a stampede at a food distribution center on the occasion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the city of Karachi in southern Pakistan .

This is reported by Al Jazeera with reference to the Pakistani police.

Near the local factory, where one of the food aid centers has been set up, people have been gathering since early morning to pick up free food. What exactly caused the incident is unknown, but suddenly there were screams from the crowd and hundreds of people began to push each other to enter the premises.

According to a representative of the local administration, there were from 600 to 700 people in a small industrial complex .

Several people were also injured during the incident, some of them falling into a nearby sewer.

Local media reports that eight women and three children were killed.

Local police representative Magi Hashmi. said the factory owner, who set up the food distribution center, did not give advance notice of his plans, so no additional forces were deployed to police the area.

The Karachi stampede was the largest in terms of casualties at food distribution points in Ramadan since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of fasting. In total, the death toll in free food centers across the country has risen to at least 21 people.

Pakistan is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history. Millions of people are trying to get free products. Large crowds of people gather at distribution centers that were opened last week to alleviate the effects of record inflation and soaring poverty.

Recall, the head of the World Food Program said that 70 million people could die of hunger.< /p>

Related topics: