OCHA Situation Report No. 2 Iran - Drought 30 June 2000
Although the Government of Iran has not issued an international appeal, it has indicated that it would welcome international assistance. Situation 1. Southern, eastern and central Iran is experiencing a rapidly developing drought which has been causing widespread arid conditions in southern and western Asian countries. Hundreds of thousands of people as well as livestock and crops in 18 out of the total 28 provinces in the country have been affected. 2. The worst affected provinces are Sistan-Baluchestan, Khorasan, Ilam, Yazd, Fars, Kohkiluyeh Boyer-Ahmad, Bushehr, Hormuzgan, Kerman, and Khuzestan. In addition, it is now believed that all but the three northern provinces on the Caspian coast are facing some form of water shortage. The situation is reported to be critical in Sistan-Baluchestan and Khorasan (with a population of 6 million and 1.7 million respectively) on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, where the majority of the 1.4 million Afghan refugees in Iran are concentrated. 3. Since the drought is also affecting Pakistan and Afghanistan, Afghani villagers and livestock herders are reported to be crossing into Iran in search of water and pastures. Cross-border movements have increased since authorities in Iran allowed livestock in Sistan-Baluchestan to move to other areas of the country. 4. As the dry season continues and available water reserves are exhausted, it is expected that the situation will further deteriorate. Impact 5. Affected population: According to the Government, 60 per cent of the rural population in 18 drought-hit provinces is affected. 12 million people in urban and rural areas are experiencing a shortage of potable water. Agricultural losses: 20 per cent of livestock - 65 per cent of which is nomadic livestock - have either died or had to be slaughtered. Crops in 8.4 hectares of orchards and irrigated and non-irrigated farms have been lost. 9.6 million hectares of forest and woodlands are endangered. Material losses: Losses caused by the drought are officially estimated at USD 1.7 billion. 6. A UNDP/FAO field mission (see para 10. below) confirmed the Government's assessment and found the crisis to be intensifying, with the drought already having an impact on public health and population migration. The real extent of the damage in terms of public health and disease, as well as material and social costs, foregone opportunities and rural depopulation will likely far exceed the estimate of USD 1.7 billion. Needs 7. Short-term requirements The latest estimate of immediate needs from the Iranian Ministry of the Interior includes: * 300 mounted (mobile) water tankers * 305 water pumps with various capacities * 300,000 tons of animal fodder * veterinary medicines. 8. Long-term issues and solutions: One of the root causes of the persisting drought is the inadequacy of water management programmes. If more effective programmes were introduced, this could increase the use of available water supplies by 30 to 40 per cent. Such programmes would include adoption of water-conscious land-use planning, sustainable use of natural resources, sustained supply of hygienic water to cities and rural settlements, and promotion of mechanised irrigation techniques. In the longer term, there is a critical need for the Government and its partners to introduce nation-wide water management and drought mitigation measures to prevent a recurrence of the current situation. National Response 9. The Government has concentrated its efforts on providing water tankers and domestic water purifiers to meet the immediate needs of people and livestock. There are also provisions of emergency food supplies for the most seriously affected members of the population, emergency fodder supplies for livestock, and Government procurement programmes to minimize livestock losses. In addition, the Government has approved a USD 290 million emergency aid package, which will be delivered primarily in the form of loans and grants. However, it may take several months for the population to access these loans / grants. International Response 10. Main United Nations activities: The UN-DMT in Tehran has been monitoring the situation very closely and is in daily contact with the Disaster Task Force of the Iranian Ministry of the Interior. In early May, the UN Resident Coordinator has informed the local donor community and the media of the concerns about the ongoing drought. UNDP and FAO country offices fielded joint missions to assess the drought situation in four of the hardest-hit provinces (Khuzestan, Sistan, Khorasan, and Ilam) during the second half of May 2000. 11. UNDP is considering allocating emergency funds to support expert missions to assess more accurately the needs of the affected population and to formulate comprehensive measures to address both the short-term needs and long-term action plans for mitigation. In addition, a mission conducted by the FAO early warning service is planned to assist the Government in upgrading Iran's early warning system. Possibilities of sub-regional cooperation, in view of the cross-border issue with Afghanistan, are being considered. 12. The UN-DMT has been working with the Government in addressing the short-term needs and developing long-term solutions. UNDP and FAO are supporting a number of projects that will combat desertification and drought. A land and water project in the Hable-Rud region, for example, addresses the land use issue in an integrated manner, from the highlands to the river basins. One of its components aims to link policy decisions in the national planning process to the situation at community level; another component will help to prepare, and subsequently implement, Iran's National Action Plan to Combat Desertification. A number of pipeline projects, to be supported by UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility, will address the root causes of the persisting drought. For example, a carbon sequestration initiative planned for a large semi-arid area south of Mashad, will plant trees and offer community-based initiatives to reduce land degradation. 13. OCHA Geneva is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator in Tehran and has offered assistance to support monitoring, needs assessment, coordination as well as emergency grant funds to meet immediate needs. 14. 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 - Iran - Drought. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed. 15. 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. 16. 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 N.Y.) 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