Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alert 1/2000 Severe drought grips South Asia Geneva, May 01, 2000
Large parts of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are reeling under the effects of a severe drought. An almost total lack of precipitation these past few months preceded by poor rainfall over the last three years has had a devastating impact on the lives and health of the people and livestock. Reports of rising malnutrition and mortality rates, particularly among the children and other vulnerable sections of the population are on the increase. With the approach of summer in this harsh arid region, water-borne diseases are expected to multiply and fears of diseases spreading through contamination are high as people and animals are forced to share the same water sources. In a densely populated region of over 1.4 billion people, which includes 40% of the world's poor, the economic impact of the drought is likely to be severe. According to the World Bank, "under usual circumstances, some 50% of under five children are malnourished. A severe drought will exacerbate existing problems of poverty and have a devastating effect on the lives of the most vulnerable'. While the authorities in Pakistan and India have provided some assistance, there is no information of any such action by the Afghanistan authorities. The severity of the situation is evident from the involvement of the World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF, ECHO * South Asia Representative and others in various assessment missions and coordination activities. Pakistan - Approximately 125,000 families in Baluchistan Province in the remote south-western region are facing acute shortage of food and water due to a prolonged spell of drought. Peoples' livelihood, which depends primarily on animal husbandry, is seriously threatened due to the high rate of livestock mortality. ACT member Church World Service (CWS) * Pakistan/Afghanistan has reported on the rapidly worsening situation and intends to issue an appeal shortly to assist some of the most vulnerable sections of the population. India - According to the Government of India, an estimated 50 million people are affected in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The affected region cuts like an east * west swathe through the center of the country, inhabited largely by some of the most vulnerable segments of people. Wheat, grain and dairy farmers are reported to be the worst affected. Food and fodder prices have doubled while livestock prices have halved. As access to water is becoming more difficult, government and private tankers are supplying water. However due to the severity of the situation people have already started migrating to neighboring states. ACT member Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) has already commenced a relief program in some of the affected areas. The Director is travelling to Rajasthan today to assess the situation along with staff and local partners, while other CASA staff, are also assessing the situation in Gujarat. ACT member Lutheran World Service (LWS) * India is also chalking out a plan of intervention in some of the worst affected areas. LWS is also examining the feasibility of deploying its drilling rigs to create drinking water sources, which are most urgently needed. An ACT Appeal is likely to be issued shortly. Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Neville Pradhan (phone ++41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 285 2916) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -