CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE SITUATION REPORT: SOUTH ASIA DROUGHT May 4, 2000
SITUATION: A rapidly worsening dought situation is affecting millions throughout southern Asia, including India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Long-time CWS partner and Action by Churches Together (ACT) International member Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) reports that more than 100 million people living in 12 states in India have been seriously affected by the current drought. The most seriously affected states are those of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. In vast tracts of land, CASA reports, seasonal monsoons were deficient and the situation was aggravated by the failure of the normal post-monsoon rains. Water resources have dried up as unsustainable exploitation of groundwater and has depleted underground aquifers and lowered the water table to alarming depths. Crops have withered and cattle are dying. Despite being aware of the deficient monsoon rains, most of the states failed to take pre-emptive measures such as water harvesting, stocking up fodder for cattle and food grains for the needy and timely employment to compensate for crop failure. The result is parched land, high mortality of livestock, severe scarcity of drinking water and now, even starvation. More than fifty million people are badly affected by these near-famine conditions, CASA reports, but no deaths have been reported so far. However, as the summer peaks and the heat wave intensifies over the next few weeks, more and more people are expected to reel under water and food grain shortage. Meanwhile, drought conditions also threaten Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, the United Nations reports. Earlier this week, Reuters quoted Mike Sackett, Afghanistan country director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), as saying that without an adequate response, thousands of Afghans in the southern provinces will face "a merciless summer after having lost almost all their rain-fed wheat crops and up to 80 percent of their livestock." UN officials said between 2.5 and three million were affected in southern Afghanistan and about as many in Pakistan, Reuters reported. Erick de Mul, humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, told reporters he thought the drought was the worst to hit the area since 1971. Officials said the southern Afghan provinces were unlikely to receive any more rain before November. Already, thousands of nomads have reportedly fled the area in search of pasture for their animals, Reuters said. Hundreds of cattle have already died. RESPONSE: Members of the CWS-Pakistan staff are currently conducting an assessment in Thar Desert in Pakistan and plan a response that includes family food packages. They are also assessing the situation in Afghanistan and plan to submit an appeal proposal to ACT. Also submitting a proposal to ACT will be CASA, which is assessing the situation in India. Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111. For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response. Telephone: (212) 870-3151 After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853 Internet Web Site: http://www.ncccusa.org/CWS/emre ACT Web Site address: 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -