25 October 2001
Text: U.N. Food Agency Warns of Famine in Afghanistan
(Drought conditions diminish food supplies throughout Central Asia)
(1,330)
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that mass
starvation is possible in Afghanistan, with some 7.5 million people in
need of food aid. In a special report on Afghanistan and Central Asia
released October 25, the FAO says that the same three-year drought
that has diminished food stores in Afghanistan has caused seriously
reduced crop yields and depleted water supplies in neighboring
countries.
Beyond the immediate food crisis endangering Afghans, the planting
season is being disrupted by current instability. The FAO predicts
another poor harvest next year and a serious long-term need to
rehabilitate the overall national agricultural system.
The FAO document also surveys the effects of the drought in other
nations of the region:
-- Pakistan's cereal production is down about 13 percent from last
year's harvest.
-- In Iran, about 90 percent of the population has been affected by
the drought, "with acute scarcity of drinking water in both rural and
urban areas."
-- Food deficits are occurring in Tajikistan and the country's two
main rivers are flowing at about 50 percent of average levels.
-- Rivers are at about 40 percent of average flows in Uzbekistan.
Grain production will be 1 million tons less than the average yield.
The FAO report is available in full at
http://www.fao.org/giews/english/alertes/2001/SRAFGCen.htm
The full report is available in French and Spanish at
http://www.fao.org/giews
Following is the text of an FAO press release on the Special Report on
Afghanistan and Central Asia:
(begin text)
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
FAO WARNS OF FAMINE THREAT TO AFGHANISTAN WHILE FOOD SUPPLIES TIGHTEN
IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Rome, 25 October 2001 -- The deepening food crisis in Afghanistan is
threatening Afghans with mass starvation, according a special report
released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report
warns that the food supply situation in countries bordering
Afghanistan is also seriously undermined by a prolonged drought. "This
year's food production in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan has suffered a significant reduction due to serious
drought. The unfavorable food supply situation, which has prompted
emergency food assistance in some of these countries, therefore gives
little comfort to millions of displaced and resident Afghans who in
the past could meet part of their food needs with supplies from
neighboring countries."
Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been supporting
millions of refugees from past conflicts but their capacity to cope
with the new arrivals is seriously compromised due to insufficient
resources, the report says.
While the majority of Afghans are facing severe food supply
difficulties, some 7.5 million most affected people are in desperate
need of food aid. WFP plans to deliver 52,000 tones of food aid per
month to feed the most vulnerable people, both refugees (1.5 million)
and resident population (6 million) in Afghanistan. However, transport
and distribution difficulties are hampering the delivery of the
required volumes. Some of the food would have to be airlifted to
inaccessible areas of the country, in particular the central highlands
before the onset of harsh winter in mid-November.
The current adverse situation coincides with the planting season for
wheat, which accounts for 80 percent of the country's total cereal
production. With the population largely on the move, serious shortages
of inputs and a disruption of farming activities by military
operations, cereal production in 2001 to meet consumption needs during
2001/02 (July/June) is set to decline significantly. This would
further aggravate the already grave food supply situation in the
country.
When the conflict is finally resolved, mid-term agricultural
rehabilitation/reconstruction measures in Afghanistan will need to
address the reconstruction of irrigation systems, input supply to
farmers, farm power, rehabilitation of orchards, livestock and
forestry sub-sectors, extension and education and institutional
capacity-building. FAO has estimated that some US$200 million would be
required for the implementation of a countrywide agricultural sector
emergency relief and rehabilitation program.
Even before the events of 11 September, Afghanistan was gripped by a
grave food crisis following three consecutive years of drought and
intensifying economic problems due to continuing civil conflict.
The FAO report warns that rainfed wheat production in Pakistan is
estimated at about 541,000 tones in 2001, nearly 70 percent below the
average of the last five years and 62 percent below last year's
reduced crop. However, as about 90 percent of wheat production is
irrigated, the overall impact of the drought was not as great.
Nevertheless, total wheat production (irrigated and rainfed) in 2001
was estimated at 18.73 million tones, still significantly below the 21
million tones harvested last year. The total cereal production in 2001
is estimated at 26.5 million tones, 13 percent below last year's
harvest, the report says.
Pakistan is hosting some 2 million Afghan refugees from the earlier
conflict. However, refugee numbers are on the increase due to recent
events.
In Iran the disastrous consequences of three consecutive years of
drought continue to be felt in all sectors of the economy. A UN
inter-agency report released in July estimated that about 90 percent
of the population (urban, rural and nomadic) have been severely
affected. The shortage of water in rivers and the rapidly falling
water tables have resulted in an acute scarcity of drinking water in
both rural and urban areas. Large sections of the rural population and
their livestock in the affected provinces have started migrating to
other areas in search of water. An estimated 200,000 nomadic livestock
owners are reported to have lost their only source of livelihood.
In Tajikistan, drought, water shortages, dilapidated irrigation
systems and structural problems have worsened the food supply
situation this year compared to last year when a large deficit was
experienced, with food supplies remaining very tight throughout the
year, according to the report. The two main rivers, Amu and Syr,
feeding the extensive irrigation system of the country, have been
flowing at about 50 percent of the average levels.
Severe water shortages and drought two years in succession have
significantly impacted crop production in Uzbekistan, the report says.
"Water flows in the two main sources of irrigation, the Amu Darya and
Syr Darya rivers are reported to be about 40 percent of the average
flows, while record hot and dry weather conditions have increased
demand for irrigation water." In addition, high levels of salinity are
reported to contaminate the scarce water supply.
This year's total grain output is not expected to exceed 3.4 million
tones, about 500,000 tones less than the poor harvest of last year and
about one million tones less than in 1999 when production was
considered average. Wheat production is estimated at 3.2 million tones
and rice at 100,000 tones, compared with 1999 production levels of 3.6
million tones of wheat and 421,000 tones of rice.
In Turkmenistan, drought and irrigation water shortages for two years
in succession have affected crop production. Reservoirs fed by the Amu
Darya, providing nearly 90 percent of the country's irrigation needs,
have been significantly lower than the previous year, while the
Murghab river supplying irrigation water to Mary province has been
virtually dry for most part of the cropping season this year.
FAO tentatively forecasts grain output at similar levels to its
estimates of 2000, including 1.4 million tones of wheat, 50,000 tones
of barley, 20,000 tones of maize and 20,000 tones of rice. Grain
production levels were maintained due to some increase in area under
wheat. The worst affected areas are once again Mary province
(bordering Iran and Afghanistan) and Dashagouz (bordering
Karaklpakstan region of Uzbekistan). The cereal import requirement for
2000/01 is estimated at about 40,000 tones.
The Special Report on Afghanistan and Central Asia is available on the
Internet as part of the FAO World Wide Web at the following URL
address: http://www.fao.org/giews/.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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