The UN System for Pakistan and Afghanistan organized a joint briefing on Drought on 26^th May 2000. The briefing was well attended by representatives of Resident missions, donors, NGOs and UN agencies. The briefing provided an opportunity to the Members of the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment team to present the results of their assessment missions to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Representing UN system Pakistan, Mr. Onder Yucer, UN Resident Coordinator and Mr. John Powell, Country Director WFP Pakistan, shared brief remarks about the drought and the UN response so far. Mr. Powell said that the joint WFP/FAO mission has covered drought hit areas of Balochistan Province only. The report of the assessment mission would be available in the next two weeks, as the mission finalizes the analysis of data on their return to Rome.

Mr. Ahmed speaking on behalf of the assessment team presented the methodology that was employed by the mission. He said that for crop production the following factors were analyzed:

• water availability (historical pattern for rainfall)
• irrigation types and methods
• seeds, pesticides, fertilizers (availability, quality, application now and earlier)
• pest and disease outbreak
• area planted, area harvested, possible yield and output of crop

• ownership pattern
• livestock numbers (sheep/goats)
• mortality
• current situation and prospects

Keeping these factors in view, the team undertook an in-depth assessment of the situation in the above mentioned areas for both Balochistan (Pakistan) and Afghanistan. The team members made the following key points during the presentation on Balochistan (Pakistan):

• A large proportion of Balochistan's geographical area (65%) is rangeland and only 5% is arable.
• Seven districts affected severely by drought this year, another 16 districts have been affected by relatively moderate drought. Drought has affected mostly on the rainfed areas.
• The drought has been in process since the last 15 years, worsening over the past three years due to low and in some years virtually no rainfall. Citing other reasons for precipitous progress of drought, Mr. Ahmed said that water mining has been taking place in these districts, because of which the water table has gone down due to lack of recharge. The low flat rate of electricity used by the submergible electric pump owners has further exacerbated the problem. The traditional water sources, the karazes, have also dried up due to deepening of water table.
• Crop production is severely affected, particularly in rainfed areas due to which livestock raising and livelihoods of a large number of people is affected. The losses in livestock have been noted in order of 45-55% for sheep and 30-40% for goats. The rangeland carrying capacity has diminished, and cannot support the animal population.
• Estimates of cereal production reflect a decline of 20-30% in 1999-2000 compared to the average of past four years. The total estimated cereal requirement of the province is measured around 12% more than the total availability. The collapse of the purchasing power of population has greatly affected the access to food.
• Affected groups include the nomads and transhumants, which particularly depend on livestock and rainfed agriculture. The sedentary households have some means to fall back on but they have also been affected. The assessment mission observed that if the rains fail again, the situation would deteriorate further for all groups of population. Even if it rains reasonably well next year, the crop output will not be available until April 2001.

Mentioning the immediate measures that can be undertaken to address the drought, the mission noted:

• Food aid especially to address the needs of the vulnerable categories of population. WFP is addressing this problem through its food aid programme, but additional resources are required.
• Seed for rainfed areas, appropriate double purpose seeds could be supplied for both rainfed and irrigated areas. It was noted that the Punjab Seed Corporation could provide the seeds for these areas, is a request is channeled to them.
• Medicines and concentrate feed for livestock.

Enumerating the medium to long term relief measures that can be planned/undertaken, the following were mentioned:

• Improved water management, with modification and regulation of groundwater tapping. Introduction of incentives for adoption of improved low water requiring methods such as trickle drip etc.
• Improved rangeland management, for this regulation and motivation would be required.

Concluding the briefing, the mission members said that the decrease in the purchasing ability of the people is affecting the livelihoods severally. Employment opportunities are also decreasing and groups (especially nomads) are migrating to areas having some water source. There is no evidence of malnutrition yet, but it is likely to come. Eye infections are common among the groups especially among children. It was said that government is trying to keep the people in the villages and the relief efforts by the donors and NGOs should support them to do so.

The ensuing discussion among other points covered aspects of UN -Government coordination. Responding, Mr. Onder Yucer said that UN is working closely with the Federal and the Provincial Governments. Elaborating the national response so far, Mr. Yucer said that the response has been adequate, the civilian administration and army are fully involved. The efforts have been consistent and in line with the immediate needs of the areas.

Concluding the briefing, it was said that subsequent briefings would be organized to share information, as it becomes available. The Rapid Assessment Mission, which has been fielded by UN Country Team/Disaster Management Team in collaboration with DFID to cover Balochistan and Sindh will be covering the non food issues in the drought stricken areas. The findings of the mission will also be widely shared on completion of the assessment.

International Assistance for Drought Stricken Areas

Bilateral

Turkey US$ 3 million
China US $ 50, 000 (through Red Crescent Society)
South Korea US $ 50, 000 (for both Sindh and Balochistan)
USA US $ 70, 000 (through NGOs for both Sindh and Balochistan)
Norway US$ 22,000 (through OCHA)
UAE Rs. 13.642 million (in kind)
DFID 2 Million Pound Sterling (to WFP for Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan)

UN Assistance

UNOCHA US$ 30,000
UNDP US $ 100, 000 (in kind)
WFP to be specified (in kind)
UNICEF to be specified (in kind)
WHO to be specified (in kind)