In the province of Balochistan, 23 out of 26 districts were severely affected by drought this year resulting in significant losses to agricultural production and livestock as well as deteriorating health and sanitary conditions in the drought affected communities. The agricultural crops in the rain-fed areas failed completely whereas crop yields in the irrigated areas also dropped as the ground water had receded beyond accessible levels in tubewell irrigated areas. Livestock losses are estimated at 50-80% in the worst affected areas due to reduced grazing and drinking water availability.

This year's monsoon rains which normally occur during the months of July-September, touched only eastern parts of Balochistan whereas the central and western areas received little or no rains. The monsoon rains as well as immediate relief measures by the Government, donor agencies, local and international NGOs and private organizations have eased drought adversities in 11 districts of the province. However, the drought situation in the remaining 12 districts of the province rests on sufficient and timely winter rains during coming months and continuation of relief measures for the drought affectees.

Balochistan Relief Commissioner, in close collaboration with the Pakistan army, bilateral donors, UN agencies, local and international NGOs and private organizations, has been coordinating immediate relief activities and is now devising medium to long term rehabilitation requirements in the drought-stricken areas of the province. Please see Annex A for details of national and international response for drought stricken areas of Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

The Provincial Drought Management Committee (PMDC) which was established on 2 August, 2000, has met twice in Quetta to discuss immediate as well as medium to long term relief and rehabilitation measures for the drought affected areas. The Committee has also discussed the need for conducting a rapid household survey in the month of October, 2000 to determine the impact of drought on agriculture, livestock, water and sanitation, health and nutrition and water sectors. The Government of Balochistan is expected to submit a formal proposal to UNDP for possible funding of the rapid household survey through UNDP's Relief Assistance Project (PAK/00/003).

The UN system continued to work closely with the Federal and Provincial Governments and for this purpose it has established a Disaster Management Support Office (DMSO) in Quetta in September, 2000. DMSO is working closely with PMDC on drought-related emergency programmes in the province and addressing issues that arise in the direction and management of relief and rehabilitation operations; standardizing reporting procedures; and helping in collation of information on relief and rehabilitation activities.

The UN Resident Coordinator on 19 September, 2000 announced an additional assistance of 400 metric tons of wheat and 150 metric tons of edible oil on behalf of WFP to provide relief to the drought affectees of the province. This assistance will be handled by OXFAM, an international NGO, in close collaboration with the Balochistan Relief Commissioner.

With the assistance provided by the United Nations Office of Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA), Balochistan Area Development Programme of UNDP has arranged preparation of 200,000 Urea Molasses Blocks (UMB). The first installment of 30,000 UMBs was handed over to the Balochistan Relief Commissioner on 23 September, 2000. The remaining quantity of 170,000 UMBs is being produced in Quetta and would be handed over to the Relief Commissioner during coming months. These blocks will supplement the poor grazing and crop residue feeding of 30,000 breeding sheep and goats in the hard hit areas of the Balochistan province.

On the request of the Government of Pakistan, UNESCO fielded a two-week mission from 16 September, 2000 to assess existing water resources management in the Balochistan province and develop a long-term action plan for sustainable water resources management in the province. The report of the mission will be shared with the Government of Pakistan and the provincial government in due course.

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