OCHA Situation Report No. 1 India - Drought 18 May 2000
Situation and damage 1. India is experiencing a severe drought which is rapidly spreading over large areas of southern and western Asian countries. The drought is particularly marked in the area stretching from the worst affected states of Rajasthan and Gujarat down to Andhra Pradesh. More than 90 million people in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh alone are in the grip of the severe drought. According to information provided by the Indian Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, which is responsible for coordinating disaster management activities, the situation is as follows: Rajasthan 2. The scanty and inadequate rainfall of the last two years in the state of Rajasthan has severely affected crops. 23,406 villages (57 % of the state's total villages) in 26 of the total 32 districts are facing drought-induced problems. In all, 26.2 million people (59 %) and 34.6 million animals (64 %) have been affected. No loss of human life has been officially reported. Gujarat 3. Insufficient and irregular rains during the expected monsoon season of 1999 precipitated a severe drought. Almost all the surface water reservoirs have reportedly dried out. 9,421 villages in 17 out of the total 25 districts have been confronted with an acute shortage of water for basic human needs. In all, 25.0 million people have been affected. No loss of human life has been officially reported. A UNICEF report on the situation in Gujarat indicates that more than 75% of the villages in Saurashtra in the west of Gujarat are suffering acutely from the drought, while conditions are not much better in Kutch. It is feared that the situation might worsen over the remaining weeks of summer, with the shortage of drinking water and food having an adverse impact on the health of the drought victims, in particular the vulnerable group of women and children. Andhra Pradesh 4. 17,431 villages, inhabited by 41.3 million people and 12.5 million head of livestock, in 18 out of 23 districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh have been affected. 2.7 million ha of the total 7.0 million ha sown with crops have been damaged by the drought. 5. According to a Special Alert issued by FAO on 11 May, the drought-induced shortages of water and animal feed have led to the loss of several thousand head of livestock in several Indian states. In Gujarat this year's "kharf" (monsoon) and "rabi" (winter) crops are likely to fall 30 % short of the norm due to the failure of the monsoon. In Rajasthan, cereal and oilseed production are expected to fall by 23 % and 17 % respectively. The Alert also says that from a national perspective, the drought is not expected to affect overall food production significantly. Because many of the affected areas do not lie in main grain production zones where higher output of crop is coming this year due to generally favourable weather conditions, and also there remain sizeable stocks following favourable harvests in recent years. National Response 6. Both central and state governments in India have adopted emergency measures to provide relief assistance in drought-affected areas. The central Government is constantly monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to mitigate the hardship imposed by the drought. 7. Since 1999 the central Government has released funds on a continuous basis for various schemes, including a total amount of INR 10.4 billion (USD 240 million) for financial assistance from its Calamity Relief Fund and from the National Fund for Calamity Relief: INR 3.7 billion for Rajasthan, INR 3.1 billion for Gujarat, INR 2.6 billion for Andhra Pradesh and INR 1.0 billion for Madhya Pradesh. In addition, cash funds, loans and in-kind assistance have been provided to improve nutrition especially for women and children, the water supply for irrigation and household consumption, animal fodder, animal husbandry, housing and infrastructure, transportation, and rural development. These programmes are being implemented by various entities such as the Department of Agriculture & Coordination, the Department of Drinking Water Supply, the Department of Rural Development, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Department of Public Distribution, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas as well as the Prime Minister's Office. 8. Due to the seriousness of the drought in various parts of India, the Prime Minister has issued a special appeal to the nation for donations to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to fight the drought. 9. In the state of Rajasthan, Ministers and senior government Secretaries have been assigned to each affected district for monitoring and supervision of the relief operations in the state. Under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister a high level implementation committee has been constituted. 10. The government of Gujarat had prepared a master plan for ensuring water supply for the summer season, based on the findings of an assessment carried out last August and September. The government is mobilizing a massive drought relief programme. At state level, the Revenue Department's Relief Commissioner is taking the overall responsibilities for drought-related interventions. Respective government departments are providing the required support to their district staff, under the overall coordination of the District Collectors. The Chief Minister, aided by his Cabinet colleagues, is closely monitoring the implementation of the relief plans by state and district level officials. 11. Measures taken by the state governments are summarized as follows (up to 11 May 2000): Rajasthan Gujarat Andhra Pradesh Water no. of wells deepened/restored 153 3,660 3,300 no. of water supply schemes 132 n/a 2,729 restored/extended no. of handpumps 65,627 64,763 110,555 repaired/installed no. of villages served by 988 n/a 1,400 water tankers Amount spent on water management INR 344.8 mil n/a INR 766.5 mil Fodder no. of Gauhalas (camps) 466 642 53 opened no. of fodder depots opened 1,340 421 n/a Total quantity of fodder 233,000 tons n/a n/a produced/supplied Amount spent on cattle INR 325.7 mil n/a INR 50.0 mil /fodder management Food grain Food grain allocated 526,462 tons n/a 100,000 tons Food grain lifted 23,603 tons n/a n/a Food grain distributed n/a 2,542 tons n/a 12. The central Indian Government informed OCHA that they would not be issuing an appeal for international assistance. However, voluntary cash contributions and/or relief supplies will be gratefully accepted as an expression of international solidarity. International Response 13. The United States has offered a mission allowance of USD 25,000 to the Indian Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, to be used to meet the immediate relief needs of those affected by the drought. 14. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is carrying out an assessment in western India to estimate the scale of devastation caused by the drought. 15. The UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in New Delhi is stepping up ongoing development programmes in order to support the drought affected population. 16. The UNDMT has been in close touch with the government of Rajasthan since November/December 1999 in matters relating the drought. Four UN missions have visited the state. On 26 April the UN Resident Coordinator headed a mission to Rajasthan. The UNDMT has recommended the establishment of a Drought Relief Coordinating Unit in the UNFPA Office in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, to facilitate the expansion and acceleration of ongoing UN programmes with the state government. As of 12 May, nearly 3,300 tons of wheat, about 130 tons of pulses and 50 tons of vegetable oil have been released or are in the pipeline for disbursement by WFP in the most acutely affected districts of Rajasthan. 17. Similarly, the UNDMT is monitoring the disaster situation in Gujarat in cooperation with the UNICEF office in Gandhinagar, the capital of the state. The UNICEF office is compiling a report on an assessment mission which was fielded at the end of last April. 18. In response to a request from the UN Resident Coordinator in New Delhi for funding for the local purchase of relief items and/or logistical support, as well as coordination to assist the population affected by the drought in northern India, OCHA has provided an Emergency Grant of USD 30,000. 19. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator in New Delhi and will revert with further information if the situation warrants it. 20. 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 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 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: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -