OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Uzbekistan - Drought
12 December 2000


Long-term response to be implemented in Uzbekistan

1. A joint FAO's TCOR/WFP mission visited the drought-affected regions of
Karakalpakstan and Khozerm in October 2000. The mission analysed the
natural and man-made causes of the drought, and made a series of
recommendations to mitigate the worst effects of this and future droughts.


Impact of the drought

2. The mission confirmed there have been substantial losses to rice and
cotton crops and major losses to other food, horticultural and cash crops.
The livestock sector has suffered from loss of fodder and shortage of
drinking water. Soil degradation from years of continual cultivation has
irreparably damaged soil productivity.


Proposed action

3. The provision of emergency agricultural inputs will not help to
improve the overall situation. The mission recommended the Government to
urgently approve and implement long-term measures necessary to remedy the
agricultural situation in Karakalpakstan and Khozerm. Temporary emergency
assistance will achieve very little and might further exacerbate the
present situation.

4. "Support to the Government for Strengthening the System for Drought
Prevention, Preparedness and Management" is a one-year key project
proposed by the mission. This project (estimated cost US$ 679,000) aims at
strengthening the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, at central
and regional levels, in combating future droughts. Donors are urged to
fund this project which will focus on the following objectives:

- Establishing central and regional coordination units for the
organizations involved in irrigation and agriculture in order to sharpen
their response to droughts.

- Defining strategies for mitigation of the possible adverse effect of
droughts.

- Developing a pilot multi-purpose natural resource and environmental
database using remote sensing techniques and the FAO Land Cover
Classification System.


5. As Uzbekistan is not a member of FAO, the Organization will be able to
implement this project provided that trust funds are contributed by
interested donors.


Ongoing programmes

6. Government officials stressed the need for emergency assistance to
improve irrigation and drinking water supply systems, and medical supplies
for disease prevention. The World Bank channeled funds from on-going
long-term projects to support these requirements (up to US$ 100,000), as
well as providing pumps for irrigation and excavators. USAID is also
drilling 35-40 wells for drinking water (US$ 25,000).

7. 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.

8. 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 1394

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


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