OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Cambodia - Drought
26 December 2002


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the UN
Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, the National Committee for Disaster
Management (NCDM), IFRC, NGO and media reports.

I. Situation and Damage

1. A prolonged drought due to unusually dry weather during the rainy
season, and starting as early as January 2002 in some places, has affected
8 provinces, in particular those of Kampong Speu, Takeo, Prey Veng in the
south, and Odar Meanchey in the northwest of the country. In early August,
NCDM officials described the drought as the worst in two decades. The
drought prevailed until the onset of rains in mid-August.

2. Statistics from the NCDM indicate that the drought has affected over 2
million people. While food security at the national level does not seem to
be at risk at the present time, populations in some areas are facing
serious food shortages. WFP attributes these disparities to a combination
of factors such as small land holdings, low productivity, poor
transportation infrastructure and low purchasing power of the most
vulnerable. In disadvantaged areas, household financial, food and seed
reserves have been seriously depleted following attempts to replant rice
after the 2000 and 2001 floods and droughts. People's mechanisms to cope
with food shortages have been insufficient for the lean period from
September to December, which is the season prior to the harvesting of the
wet season rice.

3. The government of Cambodia warned in early December that the country
faces a food shortage of about 88,000 MT of rice in 2003.

4. WFP carried out a food needs assessment at the end of September 2002.
Its results indicate that 2.66 million people have been affected by the
drought in 66 districts of 10 provinces and that an estimated 1 million
people need food assistance, for whom 10,000 MT of rice would be needed.
In order to identify the areas that should be the first priority in terms
of assistance, WFP used the following five criteria:

- Drought stricken areas: more than 50% of the population have been
affected by drought in 2002,

- Poverty rate: more than 40% of the population living beneath the poverty
line,

- Rice dependency: over 85% of households in the district are fully
engaged in and dependent upon rice farming,

- Rice production: total rice needs (based on 152 kg/capita/year) are
greater than the district level production,

- Other crop production: areas planted with other crops are less than 10%
of areas planted with wet season rice.

5. A total of 187 communes that met all five criteria were classified as
"first priority", and an estimated 132,700 households in these areas were
determined as requiring 6,500 MT of rice for 2 months.


II. National and International Response

6. Of the quantity required for the lean period this year, by the time of
the WFP assessment, a total of 1,000 MT had already been provided to flood
and drought affected victims by the Royal family, the NCDM, CRC,
international NGOs (HI, CWS, SVA, WV, CARE) and WFP.

7. WFP, working in partnership with 6 NGOs, is providing 1,500 MT of food
to drought affected communities through Food-for-Work for small scale
disaster mitigation projects.

8. OCHA has provided through the Office of the UN Resident Co-ordinator a
USD 160,000 grant from its own reserves, in order to enable WFP to address
the needs of some of 11,143 vulnerable households in first priority areas.
The grant is being used to purchase, transport and distribute 1,500 MT of
rice, fish and oil in collaboration with NGOs, the NCDM and the Cambodian
Red Cross.

9. However, a deficit of 4,000 MT of rice remains. The UN Disaster
Management Team (UNDMT) has suggested to the NCDM that the Government of
Cambodia mobilizes its own resources to meet the deficit. Resources
available include 10,000 MT of rice from the Republic of India and a 500
MT rice donation form the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

10. The UNDMT is closely monitoring the situation, especially with regard
to the cultivation of dry season rice, and will liaise with the Ministry
of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries for their annual crop survey
scheduled for February 2003. Initial assessments have started in December.

11. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their
corresponding values by item.

12. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator in Cambodia and will continue to report on the developments of
the situation, as appropriate.

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
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Rudolf Muller/Ms. Marie Spaak/Ms. Héloïse Ruaudel
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131/17 28/17 69

Press contact:
  (GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (NYC) - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43


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