Since the last update on drought affecting Pakistan in May 2000, three separate missions fielded by the UN System for Pakistan have carried out assessments: an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission to Balochistan, an FAO/WFP mission to Sindh and the UN Rapid Non-Food Assessment Mission to Balochistan and Sindh.

The FAO/WFP mission found that in Balochistan which normally has little rain, a below average rainfall over the last two years has caused a deterioration of the situation. Out of a total of 26 districts, 23 were affected by drought this year, seven very severely. The main recommendations of the FAO/WFP assessment mission for Balochistan, are as follows:

• Appropriate and timely preventative measures, including food and health assistance and provisions of seeds, should be provided to affected families.

• In order to meet the food needs of part of the affected population, additional emergency food assistance is required. WFP is implementing an immediate emergency operation for 6 weeks, the objectives of which are to prevent the further deterioration of the health and nutrition status of the affected population during the emergency period, prevent a further reduction of productive assets of households in the affected areas and prevent mass migration. The operation will provide some 16,456 tonnes of wheat, 987 tonnes each of pulses and oil to meet these objectives. In providing food assistance, priority will be given to female-headed households, households with young children, pregnant and lactating women, and elderly people and households that have lost all livestock.

• Animal feed in terms of concentrates and roughage is urgently needed to maintain a minimum of about 1.2 million small ruminants' selected breeding stock in the most affected districts. Concentrate requirements would amount to some 65,000 tonnes. As an alternative UMBs (Urea-molasses blocks) for 32,500 tonnes could be provided. This feed should suffice for nine months until the next lambing season. The mission recommended that drenching medicines and non-dipping medicaments against internal and external parasites are also needed.

• Overall nutritional status of the population has been affected due to inadequate energy intake, women are particularly vulnerable and many are suffering from anemia.

• There is an urgent need for seeds for the next planting, and for feed and roughage for livestock for a minimum period of three months.
• Vaccination and deworming for the livestock population is needed to mitigate further deterioration.

• The situations prevailing in terms of drought effects and emergency responses differ not only in respect of the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, but also between districts of these areas.

• Although the Government is providing some food assistance to the affected population, there is a need for additional food assistance for certain groups within the population who are deemed vulnerable either in camps or affected areas. Vulnerable groups including – pregnant and lactating women, malnourished children and the elderly, require special attention both for food and health, and these groups should be closely monitored.

• There is particular concern for the nutritional status of children, and women of child-bearing age.

• Whilst there are normally migratory patterns for people and livestock in these areas, in Balochistan the lack of rain is causing irregular displacement resulting in the need for the GOP and other agencies to provide emergency assistance.

• The emergency conditions could to some extent have been avoided if there had been more coherent and successful development activities in the past. These in turn relate to fundamental problems relating to institutional issues and governance and the need for provincial authorities to be able respond to social and environmental concerns.

• There is a need for provincial governments to develop proper water resource management and policies for livestock and rangeland management.

• In the water sector in Balochistan it recommended the regulation of utilization of water for irrigation purposes and promotion of the use of water points for drinking water supply to drought affected people. There is a requirement for provision of improved water distribution facilities for people who are displaced in camps. The mission also recommended regular monitoring of water supply quality and effective measures for sterilisation, sanitation and hygiene promotion.