The Government of Pakistan and Provincial Governments of Balochistan and Sindh have continued relief activities in the areas affected by drought 2000. In addition, there has been a comprehensive national and international response in the form of cash and in-kind relief assistance to mitigate the effects of drought. Direct bilateral aid received or pledged by China, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Turkey and USA amounts to US$ 14.26 million. Details of the contributions received and pledges made are given in Annex "A".

Unfortunately, Pakistan is heading towards another severe drought spell due to very low rainfall in the current winter season. The La-Nina phenomena which is responsible for below normal rains in Pakistan for the last 2.5 years after diminishing in December, 2000 has reappeared and the global projections indicate that it will continue till March, 2001 after which it will fade gradually in the next few months. According to the latest available prediction, upper parts of the country (NWFP, Kashmir, Upper Punjab and North Balochistan) are likely to receive about 30% less rain while southern parts (Sindh, South Punjab and South Balochistan) may receive 50-60% less than normal rain.

The northern mountainous regions normally receive 25% of total snowfall in the months of December and January, whereas only a quarter of it was recorded in these months. The remaining 75% of normal snowfall during February and March is also likely to remain 30% below normal. Due to expected low snow fall, the snowmelt areas and reservoirs are likely to be affected by shortage of water in the coming months. No significant rain is expected in the drought hit areas of Punjab (Cholistan) and Sindh (Thar) during the current two months. Wheat crop is reported to have suffered a setback in the southern regions of NWFP, rain-fed areas of Punjab and parts of Sindh province. Its production during the current year is estimated to be 10% less than that of 1999 which was 18.5 million metric tons and far less than the peak production of 21 million tons of year 2000.

As a result of the continuing drought situation in 2000-2001, the Government has revised GDP growth target from 4.5 per cent to 3.8 percent.

Taking into consideration the prevailing situation in drought affected areas of Sindh province, the Government of Sindh has declared the following areas as "calamity affected":

A total of 22,000 square kilometers area is reported to be severely affected in Sindh with a population of nearly 1 million. The Government of Sindh has allocated a sum of Rs. 141 million for distribution of wheat and fodder for relief to the affected in the calamity hit areas

Due to partial winter rains and snow in some of the drought affected districts of Balochistan province, situation has slightly improved in Quetta, Kalat, Mastung, Loralai, Killa Saifullah, Panjgoor, Kech, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Lasbela, Dera Murad Jamali, Bolan and Ziarat districts. Khuzdar, Sibi, Zhob, Awaran, Musa Khel and Barkhan have received normal winter rainfall. However, the situation has not improved in Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Chagai and Kharan districts which continue to be severely affected with drought. A total of nearly 1 million human beings and 3.8 million livestock continue to suffer from the ill-effects of drought in the severely affected districts of Balochistan province. There is a possibility of fresh incidence of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in the drought affected regions of Balochistan during May, 2001.

The Government of Balochistan with support from Pakistan Army, has continued relief operations in the drought affected areas by distributing food supplies as well as animal feed in the form of urea molasses blocks in the drought affected areas of the province. The food supplies consisted of wheat flour, rice, lentils, sugar, tea and edible oil etc. Details of the relief activities undertaken by the Government of Balochistan up to end of February, 2001 are given in Annex "B". The provincial government is now preparing a plan to extend relief activities up to 30 September, 2001.

World Food Programme (WFP), in follow-up to the UN Resident Coordinator's announcement during last meeting of Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC), provided 437 metric tons of wheat and about 41 metric tons of edible oil to the Government of Balochistan as relief assistance for the severely drought-affected families in Balochistan. Relief Commissioner, Balochistan, would distribute relief assistance provided by WFP to 8,000 families in four severely drought-affected districts, namely Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Chagai and Kharan.

The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), in November 2000, provided an emergency financial assistance of US $392,000 as grant aid under the Technical Cooperation Programme to the drought affected areas in Balochistan. This assistance has been used to treat 1 million animals and vaccinate another 1 million against CCHF ticks as well as for provision of urea molasses blocks for 500,000 animal heads for 6-8 weeks.

WHO in order to raise awareness about CCHF epidemic in the country, conducted two workshops, one in Quetta and the other in Loralai, during November 2000, for health officials including doctors and para-medical staff in the province of Balochistan. The training included safety measures, handling of the patients and CCHF treatment. WHO also educated hospital workers and community leaders on early warning practices of the disease.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) donated emergency obstetric care kits, as well as safe delivery kits for pregnant women to be utilized by obstetricians or trained midwives in drought affected areas of Aranji, Balochistan. UNFPA also plans to hand over a similar consignment to the Government of Sindh for use in the drought affected areas of Tharparkar.

UNHCR office in Quetta has consolidated 26 refugee villages and scattered affectees into 8 clusters in Pishin, Gulistan, Loralai, Chagai and Quetta districts. These camps accommodate nearly 160,000 Afghan refugees. It is estimated that about 2,000 refugees enter Balochistan every month due to the combined effect of drought and war. These refugees are receiving assistance from UNHCR and some NGOs. UNHCR is continuing work on strengthening of water supply schemes in the refugee camps in Pishin, Loralai, Gulistan, Chagai and Pishin Districts.

UN Office of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) provided an amount of US $52,000 in July 2000 for preparation of urea molasses blocks for distribution to the livestock herders in order to save the selected breeding stock in the drought-affected areas. The task of fabrication of urea blocks was assigned to UNDP-funded Area Development Programme Balochistan. The manufacturing of blocks was started in August, 2000 and the first consignment of 25,000 blocks handed over to the Livestock & Dairy Development Department and the Commander, Log Area, Quetta in September, 2000 for distribution to drought-affected areas already identified through a survey by the Relief Commissioner, Balochistan. Further production and distribution of the blocks have been continued on regular basis in the subsequent months. Reports from the field confirmed acceptability and use of urea block by block owners and animals. The Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Government of Balochistan, and Area Development Programme Balochistan prepared a joint report in support to the production and distribution of urea blocks in Balochistan. This report has been forwarded, among others, to the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Balochistan for their comments particularly with regard to further replication of this activity keeping in view the existing drought situation.

On the request of the Government of Balochistan (GoB), UNDP provided funds from its Drought-2000 Relief Assistance Project to conduct a rapid household survey in all the districts of the province. The objective of the survey was to determine the impact of drought on agriculture, livestock, water and sanitation, health and nutrition and water sectors. The provincial Bureau of Statistics, under the overall administrative supervision of the Planning & Development Department of GoB, has completed the survey during November, 2000. The data has been computed and print out made available. The report containing analysis of the survey results is forthcoming from the provincial government.

The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have continued their participation in relief assistance activities in the drought-affected areas. Relief Forum in collaboration with its implementing partners have undertaken comprehensive relief activities, a complete report of their activities is attached Annex "C".

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international NGO, pledged an amount of US $100,000 for the drought affectees of Balochistan and Sindh provinces and reached around 60,000 people and covered 22,500 animal heads. It distributed food-aid commodities and provided health facilities, medicines, crop seed and animal vaccination in the drought affected areas of Balochistan and Sindh provinces. Its main partners for undertaking relief and rehabilitation activities are Taraqee Trust, Balochistan Relief Forum and Participatory Integrated Development Society in the Balochistan province and Participatory Village Development Programme in the Sindh province.