Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0134

Central and South Asia are currently suffering from severe drought. The countries most affected are Afghanistan, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. The disaster has also spread  over Mongolia, northern and western China, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Significant losses of livestock and crops, and rapid deterioration of health and sanitary conditions have already
been reported and the prospect of large population displacements has been raised.

Unfortunately the deteriorating situation has received little international attention. Immediate donor response will be critical to assist the people most seriously affected.

As part of the efforts to respond to the crisis in a coordinated manner, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) has formed a Drought Task Force, which is based in Geneva and is coordinated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In the first meeting of the Task Force, on 13 July 2000, it has been agreed, among others, that primary focus should be given to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

SITUATION

 1. In Baluchistan province, it is estimated that 1.5 million people, 10.65 million livestock have been affected and 2.18 million livestock have perished. In Sindh province, it is estimated that 700,000 people and 5 million livestock have been affected. More than 120 persons and 30,000 livestock have lost their lives. A recent FAO/WFP crop and food             supply assessment estimates 2000-2001 cereal output in Baluchistan at 1.2 million tons, 20% below average. The drought has also devastated livestock production, on which some  70% of the people depend on for their livelihood. Livestock prices have declined tenfold, meaning that many of the people do not have the income to buy food even when it is
available.

2. So far, there has been a relatively poor monsoon rainfall in Pakistan and concerning Baluchistan there has been only limited and irregular distribution of rainfall. It would appear that Sindh has received more rain of late. The monsoon normally takes place from the middle of July to the middle of August. Areas to the east of Pakistan are more likely to
benefit from these rains.

3. In Baluchistan where there are a total of 26 districts, 10 districts to the north-east, east and south have received varying amounts of precipitation during the past two weeks. These precipitations are at the limit of the monsoon-affected zone. In general high lands and eastern areas have fared better. In some places only scattered showers have arrived.           However in the central, eastern and south-eastern areas and in particular in the 11 districts of Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Killa Abdullah, Lasbela, Chaghai, Kharan, Awaran, Pajgoor, Kech, and Gwadur, no rain has been received. It is likely that these areas will not get monsoon rain and will be hoping for rain in November and December.

4. In Baluchistan it is unlikely that recent rain will have a significant effect upon conditions prevailing in many areas. The continuing severity of the drought will depend both on the monsoon and winter rains. At this stage there is insufficient evidence to warrant a lessening of concern.

5. In Sindh, the districts of Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umarkot have received fair amounts of rain about one week ago. There are reports of livestock being brought back into these areas from the river delta region. Much will depend upon the continuing monsoon rain during the coming months.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The Government of Pakistan has launched a relief programme by providing one billion Pakistani rupees (approx. USD 19.5 million) to Baluchistan for animal feed, human food, drugs and vaccines, and another 1.5 billion rupees (approx. USD 29.2 million) have been reserved pending the failure of rains. The Sindh Government has spent 215 million rupees             (approx. USD 4.2 million) to distribute subsidized wheat and cash compensation to severely affected families. A number of donations in food and other essential items have been received from bilateral donors, NGOs and philanthropists.

7. In recognizing the difficulty of determining the scale of the problems relating to drought particularly in Baluchistan, the UN is working with the Government of Baluchistan to establish a government led Management Committee. It is envisaged that this body, to consist of representatives from the Provincial Government, the UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF and WHO) and NGOs, will be responsible for facilitating the overall division of labour between the various parties involved in relief and rehabilitation efforts in order to ensure adequate geographical and sectoral coverage. It should review reports, ensure authoritative situational analysis and resolve issues that arise in the direction and management of operations. The UN is planning to provide support to this committee through the creation of a small office, which can assist with planning, reporting and data management activities.

8. On behalf of the Government, The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock requested WFP on 11 March to assess the drought situation and assist the Government's efforts in food aid, health and water in the Arnaji tehsil of Khuzdar district of Balochistan. Following this request, three assessment missions (one of them supported by DFID) were
fielded in the affected areas.

9. In eight of the 22 affected districts in Baluchistan, WFP is launching a 40-day operation, running from 1 July through 9 August for 748,000 beneficiaries, to provide 18,400 tons of food aid, at a total cost of USD 7.4 million. Food distribution in Baluchistan will is expected to start end of July.

10. FAO reports that a request from the Government for assisting livestock has been forwarded to FAO Headquarters. The request includes provision of molasses urea blocks, drenching materials and vaccines for maintaining 500,000 sheep and goats for a three-month period.

11. The UNICEF Quetta office has participated in the assessments for both food and non-food requirements of the affected areas. Based on the mission reports and the visits of Quetta staff, assistance in the form of water storage tanks, jerrycans, 5 essential drugs, ORS packets, motor pumps, hand pumps, normal saline bags, unimix food and latrines
worth US $ 300,000 have so far been delivered. In total, a sum of US $ 0.4 million has been set aside for children and women in the drought affected areas. To ensure rapid delivery, 3 local NGOs are engaged for the installation of hand pumps, construction of latrines and preparation of lists of malnourished children and anaemic women. In addition to
this, two short-term consultants have been hired to assess the situation on a regular basis, and to supervise the distribution and use of UNICEF supplies.

12. In response to a request from the UN Resident Coordinator in Islamabad, OCHA has made available an emergency cash grant of USD 30,000 from its own funds, and has also decided to allocate a grant of USD 25,000 from a contribution for relief assistance from the government of Norway, held in reserve by OCHA. The UN-Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) in Islamabad will support the Baluchistan government in providing feed for
livestock with the use of these two grants.

13. 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-1211Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Pakistan - Drought. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

14. 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
 

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
            Date: 20 Jul 2000