Severe Drought and Food Insecurity

ACT International members of the alliance in Afghanistan are responding to assist vulnerable people affected by the serious food crisis and drought situation in Afghanistan. The United Nations and the Government of Afghanistan have indicated that there is a need  for US$ 72 million in assistance for the last half of  2008 to avoid a massive humanitarian disaster. High staple food prices, particularly for wheat, have become the largest food security concern for the Afghan population.^[1]  Needs Assessments have been undertaken by members of the Afghanistan ACT Forum, Christian Aid (CA) and Church World Service- Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A) in Herat, Nangarhar and Laghman Provinces of Afghanistan to examine the food crisis and drought in Afghanistan and gather data for coordinated programming and an ACT appeal.

This rugged, landlocked country remains one of the poorest in the world, with more than half the population, estimated at over 25 million, living below the poverty line.  Life expectancy stands at 44.5 years for both men and women. The literacy rate is one of the lowest among developing countries with only one in three Afghans, over 15 yrs of age, able to read and write.  Environmental degradation is a severe problem.  War, uncontrolled grazing, pastureland encroachment and illegal logging have contributed to land degradation and a reduction in agricultural productivity.

Since 1999 Afghanistan has suffered from recurring drought but, during the last three years, the situation has been the most severe causing a grave food crisis threatening millions of people with starvation.  According to Abdur Rashid, head of FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture, the situation is catastrophic.  There are 7.5 million extremely vulnerable people, 1.5 million of whom are new refugees.  However, virtually the entire population of over 23 million is hungry.  It is estimated that some 2.2 million tones of cereals need to be imported into the country this year just to meet basic needs.  It was expected that at least one third of this would be met through commercial imports.  But, in the current situation (high prices and the smallest wheat harvest in years), commercial imports of food and agricultural inputs are unlikely.  The bulk of the shortfall will therefore need to be met by the international donor community.

ACT International response

CA, through its partners RAADA and AHDAA, carried out a needs assessment in 22 villages in Kohsan and 25 villages in Gulran District.  (Both Kohsan and Gulran are districts in Herat  Province in north western Afghanistan, bordering the nation of Iran to the west).  According to the Christian Aid report, most children, pregnant women, and landless families are facing hunger. Farming and carpet weaving are the main occupations in Kohsan but, because skills are not adequate, there is a low market demand.  Annual income is only about 26,000 Afghanis (US$ 520) but the average annual expenditure is around 45,000 Afghanis (US$ 900).

In Gulran district farmers and livestock keepers were still recovering from the effects of the last drought when the recent drought hit their livestock.  The communities also suffer from lack or shortage of basic services such as clinics, schools, transportation, road infrastructure as well as food insecurity, isolation, poverty, poor agricultural resources and livestock diseases.

CWS-P/A carried out assessments in three districts of Nangarhar Province (eastern Afghanistan on the border with Pakistan), three districts of Takhar Province ( north eastern Afghanistan) and one district in Laghman Province (eastern Afghanistan) with a total population of 1,229,955.  These provinces were selected by CWS P/A as the recent droughts have had a severe impact on the food security of the population.  Furthermore, according to data in the  UNHCR report  Repatriation Operation to Afghanistan – 2008  Nangarhar Province has the highest refugee return rates of any province in Afghanistan in 2007.  As of 5 September 2008, the cumulative number of Afghans repatriated to Nangarhar, Takhar and Laghman provinces is 125,621.  This huge influx of returnees into these districts has further impacted on food consumption patterns.

The absence of basic facilities and economic opportunities for the returnees in Nangarhar and the IDPs in Takhar has led to the creation of a situation whereby people can not even be assured of one good meal a day for themselves and their families. If not responded to, this situation can turn into a human catastrophe, fueled by the absence of basic facilities such as shelter, potable water, sanitation and health facilities. The increased number of returnees, specially the refugees from Pakistan, is one factor in the deteriorating security situation. Almost 57% of the target community is deprived of clean drinking water. This has resulted in a prevalence of common diseases such as  dysentery, diarrhea, malaria and even hepatitis (A) in the area.

At present the residents of these areas are receiving sporadic minimal assistance from the UN agencies. However, no other government or humanitarian organization is providing assistance to these people.

ACT members Christian Aid and Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan plan to provide assistance that will contribute to the reduction of poverty and improve food security through agriculture inputs,  provision of water sources, support in shelter construction and sustainable livelihood activities.  This includes provision of  immediate food relief packages. An ACT appeal is under development and will be issued soon.

We would be grateful for any indications of funding available for this emergency.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).