OCHA Situation Report No. 3 Tajikistan - Drought 10 October 2000
FAO and WFP approve an Emergency Food Assistance Operation in favor of drought victims General Situation 1. Tajikistan, affected by a severe drought, is on the verge of a serious food shortage. The food deficit is expected to be as high as 307,000 MT. One half of Tajikistan's 6,1 million people will face food access problems while 1,9 million are critically affected. A deficit of this magnitude, if not met in a timely manner, could result in widespread and serious nutritional consequences, loss of assets, out-migration and even the potential destabilization of a country still recovering from a five-year civil conflict. 2. Cereal production is estimated at only 236,000 MT, down 46% from 1999. This production can only cover the domestic cereal requirements for three months. Wheat production has been declining since 1997 because of the decaying irrigation systems, the lack of quality seeds, obsolete farm machinery and limited access to fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. 3. The overall situation in Tajikistan is deteriorating on account of the current food crisis. The World Bank estimates that 82% of the population lives under the poverty line. UN Response 4. On 21 September 2000, the Executive Director of WFP and the Director-General of FAO have approved an Emergency Operation (EMOP) in support of 1,160,000 beneficiaries in Tajikistan. The Emergency Food Assistance to Victims of Crop Failure and Drought will provide some 126,000 MT of commodities for a period of nine months and will cost US$ 62,306,866. 5. The primary goal of WFP assistance is to complement the efforts by the Government in addressing the most urgent needs of the affected population, who have partially or entirely lost their crops, in ways to continue promoting progress towards self-reliance. This EMOP, which will address the most urgent short-term requirements, will be implemented in parallel with the current Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), which adopts a longer-term developmental approach. 6. The Government of Tajikistan is in the process of establishing a Drought Management Team to ensure the transparent and equitable distribution of relief items among the people in need throughout the country. 7. A United Nations Inter-Agency Donor Alert for the Drought in Tajikistan (15 September 2000 to 31 July 2001), launched on 18 September, covers food requirements through July 2001, and emergency drought-related health, water and sanitation, hygiene and education needs through the end of 2000. The Donor Alert asks for $76.6 million, over and above the CAP's still unmet requirements of $35 million. 8. From 17 to 23 September 2000, a media group, invited by OCHA, traveled to Tajikistan to visit the drought-affected areas, accompanied by Mr. Ross Mountain, Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator of the UN. This group was made up of 20 international journalists. Donor Response 9. On 21 September 2000, USDA signed a Food Progress agreement with Mercy Corps International for the donation of approximately 18,800 MT of wheat flour, dry whole milk, and vegetable oil for direct distribution in Tajikistan. On 6 September 2000, USDA also signed an agreement with Save the Children Federation for the donation of approximately 15,000 MT of what flour, nonfat dry milk, and soybean oil for direct distribution in the country. 10. The European Union has pledged 23,000 MT of wheat flour, to be shared between the new EMOP and WFP ongoing PRRO. To start the EMOP as soon as possible, the option of using the Immediate Response Account of WFP is being considered. 11. 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. 12. 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 : 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -