OCHA Situation Report No. 2 Armenia - Drought 29 September 2000
The Government of Armenia launches an Appeal to the International Community to alleviate the negative effects of the drought General Situation 1. High temperatures and lack of rain in recent months have resulted in a serious drought and shortage of water. The preliminary governmental estimates of the damages to the agricultural sector amount to USD 40 million. 2. The drought has been particularly devastating for areas planted with grain, fodder and vegetables, mainly in the mountainous and sub-mountainous northern regions. According to WFP, emergency food assistance for subsistence farmers and other vulnerable groups in the affected areas is needed, in addition to seeds, animal feed, fuel and lubricants. 3. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the impact of the drought is further worsened by the poor conditions of the irrigation water system, as well as the fact that the water level in the country's rivers lowered by 40-45 percent. 4. On 19 September 2000, the Armenian Government addressed to the UN Resident Coordinator in Yerevan a note which included the following documents: - An appeal to all governments, international organizations and international community - An extract from the Protocol of Government Session of the Republic of Armenia, dated 7 September 2000 - A decree establishing the national response to the drought, dated 13 September - A programme of activities for eliminating the consequences of continuous drought and aridity in the Republic of Armenia National Response 5. In the Appeal for International Aid, dated 19 September 2000, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan indicates the extent of damages caused by the drought, the structural problems of the obsolete irrigation system and the needs for the country to urgently address the consequences of the drought. He also stresses the fact that the current social, economic and financial situation in Armenia is a serious obstacle to overcoming the consequences of this natural disaster. 6. An Extract from the Protocol of Government Session on implementation of measures for eliminating the consequences of the drought, issued on 7 September, refers to the decision taken, inter alia, to ask for international support (including support from the UN and other international organizations). 7. The Prime Minister promulgated on 13 September a Decree setting up a government committee of representatives from several ministries to overcome the aftermath of the drought. The Minister of Coordination of Activities of Production Infrastructure, David Zadoyan, was appointed chairman of the committee. 8. The fourth document is a Programme of activities to be implemented in the country with the help of the international community. They include: Mobilization of internal resources Implementation of water-construction activities Use of financial assistance for low interest loans in favour of affected farmers Governmental evaluation of the needs 9. The following products are considered by the Government as necessary in order to mitigate the consequences of the drought: 10,000 to12,000 MT of spring cereal seeds 2,500 MT of potato seeds 10,000 to 12,000 MT of diesel fuel 30,000 MT of mineral fertilizer 60,000 MT of forage crops 100,000 MT of cereal/food produces 10. The Government further estimates the investments necessary to fight against aridity, by modernizing the irrigation system, at USD 2.2 million. UN System Response 11. The FAO/WFP Food and Crop Assessment Report, prepared by the team, which visited the country from 28 August to 8 September, will be published next week. 12. 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. 13. 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 Officer : Mr. Sergio Piazzi, Mr. Dusan Zupka: Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2461 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -