CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE
CWS EMERGENCY APPEAL: SOUTHERN ASIA DROUGHT
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #976916 for $250,000
May 26, 2000



SITUATION:

As noted in the May 4, 2000, CWS/ERO Situation Report (South Asia
Drought), a rapidly worsening drought is affecting millions throughout
southern Asia, including India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The current
drought is reported to be a part of the wider climatic phenomenon
affecting countries in South Asia, the Middle East and the Greater Horn of
Africa.

The situation is particularly acute in Afghanistan, with a population of
almost 21 million, which has been suffering the ravages of a protracted
war and inter-factional militant engagements in recent years. An
inordinate number of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and
droughts, have further exacerbated the situation.

The drought in Afghanistan is reported to be the worst since 1971,
severely affecting large numbers across southern and western parts of the
country, while a moderate drought is affecting much of the rest of the
country. Thousands of families have been evacuated and considerable
numbers forced to leave their homes in search of water, food and fodder.
Crops have withered and the mortality rate amongst livestock is estimated
to be as high as 80 percent. The consequences of the lack of food and
water are resulting in rising child mortality rates and malnutrition,
especially among children, women and the elderly.

The provinces of Laghaman, Logar, Hazarajat and Takhar are among the worst
affected areas. These areas are inhabited mainly by poor, subsistence
farmers and Kochis -- nomads who live by trading animals -- who even in
normal times live from hand to mouth. Exacerbating the already dire
situation for these farmers is the fact that they have also had to pay
back for the wheat-seed they borrowed for 1999 and 2000. Many people are
leaving their communities in desperation.

Similarly difficult conditions are reported across the border in Pakistan,
particularly in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, where there has been
substantial dislocation of people and of livestock. Some 1 million people
are believed to have been affected in Pakistan, half of them in
Balochistan.


CWS RESPONSE:

Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan has developed a plan to respond
to the emergency situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan by providing food,
fodder and water to the most needy and vulnerable sections of the
population affected by the drought.

The Afghanistan portion of the response was part of a recently issued ACT
appeal (#ASAF-01) that also includes a proposal by Norwegian Church Aid -
Afghanistan.

The goal of the CWS program is to provide emergency relief to some of the
most vulnerable families to assist them over a period of three months,
enabling them to plan and take measures for the future.

Specifically the project will provide food packages to 4,000 of the most
vulnerable families in the affected provinces of Laghaman, Logar,
Hazarajat and Takhar. This will help in the prevention of malnutrition,
disease and untimely death and also encourage the families to remain where
they are instead of migrating to other areas.

Each three-month food package for a family of 8 members will include: 150
kg wheat; 11 liters cooking oil; 20 kg rice; 6 kg beans; 6 kg sugar; and 2
kg tea.

A similar program is under way in Pakistan to assist 500 families in the
villages of Vakerio, which is in the district of Tharparkar, located in
Pakistan's Sindh province.

There, assistance will consist of seed packages of millet (20 kgs)and
cereal (5 kgs) , as well as clean water. In addition, the program will
provide dry fodder blocks (4 kgs each, enough for 15-20 animals per day
for 30 days) to families with livestock in immediate danger. At the
moment, there are some 8,500 animals believed to be at risk.

The seeds and fodder distribution program will be implemented by CWS
through its partner, Participatory Village Development Program (PVDP).


CWS SUPPORT:

CWS is seeking $250,000 in denominational support for CWS efforts in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Denominations wanting to support this appeal
should send contributions to Church World Service in Elkhart (CWS/ACT
Appeal, Southern Asia Drought, #976916). Those wanting more information on
the CWS proposal contained in the ACT appeal should contact the CWS
Emergency Response Office. Or visit the ACT Web Site at: www.act-intl.org
http://www.act-intl.org


CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Southern Asia Drought, #976916, P.O. Box 968,
Elkhart, IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card donations:
1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.  On-line contributions to:
http://www.churchworldservice.org

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


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