OCHA Situation Report No. 2 Afghanistan - Drought 4 May 2000
Situation 1. Southern Afghanistan is suffering from the worst drought since 1971. Unsatisfactory rainfall in 1998 and 1999 followed by unusually dry weather with far below average precipitation in recent months are root causes of the widespread aridity in the region. Since rain and snowfall have both been minimal, less water is flowing through the River Helmand which is the main water resource of southern Afghanistan, and consequently a serious shortage of water for irrigation purposes is predicted. The hardest hit provinces are Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Uruzgon and Nimroz. Reports from the Registan desert indicate that water sources there have dried up and people have migrated. Moderate drought is affecting much of the rest of the country, leading to fears of a generalized problem of reduced production of food grain and animal fodder. 2. The most seriously affected members of the population continue to be livestock owners, especially kochis (nomads), farmers dependent on rainfall and farmers dependent on irrigation, in that order. The mortality rate amongst livestock in the most affected parts of southern Afghanistan is estimated to be in the range of 50 to 60 per cent. Some kochi families have been prompted to migrate to other areas of Afghanistan in search of fodder for their animals. Thousands of families have been evacuated from Registan by truck over the last three months. Due to deteriorating road conditions remaining people may have to be evacuated by helicopter. Migration from drought affected areas has led to employment problems in the places where evacuees have gone to live. The estimated population of southern Afghanistan is about three million. 3. The water table in Kandahar City is already dropping. Should the drought persist, it is predicted that this city will face a water crisis. According to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (UNCHS - Habitat), shallow wells are now drying up in Kandahar City. 90 per cent of the city is reliant on shallow mosque wells. A WHO survey conducted in February found that the water in the city was already unfit for human consumption. It is feared that the decrease in quality and quantity of the water may constitute an additional risk to human health, particularly with the approach of summer. 4. The impact of the drought on cereal production will be evident by the end of May when the first assessment results become available. Usually Afghanistan has no summer rains. Thus, considering that the vast majority of cultivated land produces only one crop per year, the next normal crop in rainfed areas cannot be expected until the year 2001. 5. The Central region of the country may also be seriously affected by the drought in the coming months. An influx of people from the worst affected rural areas to Kabul City is to be expected, and should this arise the poor quality of water and the worsening sanitary conditions will become an even more serious cause for concern. 6. This latest drought comes at a time when much of the population is highly vulnerable and ill-equipped to cope with a natural disaster. Many people are already struggling to cope with the effects of the war and the concomitant economic crisis. It is noteworthy that this cruel blow to farmers' livelihoods and to Afghanistan's food security has struck at a time when the overall economic situation is deteriorating, the exchange rate is fluctuating unusually rapidly, and food prices are rising at an alarming rate. International response 7. A UN/NGO Drought Task Force was formed in mid-March to assess the impact of the drought and plan a response to the unfolding disaster. The UN agencies and some NGOs are in the process of pulling together a comprehensive picture of projected needs based on ongoing and planned assessments in the course of this month. 8. On 2 May the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, located in Islamabad, Pakistan, asked donors for USD 1.8 million to provide immediate assistance for the drought victims on the basis of current knowledge of the situation. The United Nations in Afghanistan is concentrating on immediate and short-term drought alleviation efforts in the areas of food security (especially for kochi families) as well as provision of drinking water, protection of livelihoods, and coordination and information collection. In addition, the relief assistance community will also monitor watercourses and the flow of water through dams, in order to provide useful information concerning the impact of the drought on crops. 9. Budget breakdown for the priority short term interventions totaling USD 1.8 million is as follows: Immediate Needs Budget Provision of potable water, especially in urban areas: deepening of wells, preventing wastage $ 500,000 Protection of livelihoods: veterinary services, selective animal feeding $ 900,000 Coordinating, monitoring, information, data collection, technical expertise $ 400,000 WFP has also expanded its original food security programme to include distribution of emergency food supplies (wheat, vegetable oil, sugar, high energy biscuits and wheat soya blend). 10. Depending on the severity of the drought, longer-term efforts will focus on health and rebuilding livelihoods to assisting families in the areas where they live in order to prevent further migration. The longer-term strategy will be determined towards the end of May based on the comprehensive assessment results. Currently it is estimated that a coordinated response will be required for at least a twelve to eighteen month period. The overall strategy of the relief operation revolves around stabilizing communities in situ and supporting existing coping mechanisms. 11. More detailed information is available at the Website of the Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan: http://www. pcpafg.org 12. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in close contact with the Office of the United Nations Coordinator for Afghanistan, and will revert with further information if the situation warrants it. 13. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with relevant organizations in the United Nations system. Funds should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Afghanistan - Drought. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed. 14. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item. 15. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int Telephone: +41-22-917 1234 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 only: Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -