Afghanistan in the grip of a devastating drought
-19/10/06
Up to 2.5 million people are
Afghanistan in the grip of a devastating drought
-19/10/06
Up to 2.5 million people are facing acute food shortages due to a severe drought which has affected crops throughout the north, west and central regions of Afghanistan, reports Christian Aid.
Another 6.5 million people are facing chronic food insecurity due to the lack of rainfall this year.
An assessment carried out by Christian Aid along with sister agencies from the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) has discovered the shocking impact of the drought in the provinces of Badghis, Bamiyan, Farah, Faryab, Herat, Ghor, and Wardak.
Those most at risk live in areas that are largely dependant on rain-fed agriculture and the rearing of livestock. There are reports of people in rural areas walking more than ten kilometres a day to fetch water. Livestock, which are often the only source of income for their owners, are either dying of thirst or being sold in desperation.
Christian Aid and its ACT partners are responding by providing water, cash-for-work projects, fodder for livestock and counselling. There are also plans to create water reservoirs within communities that may help to minimise the impact of future drought.
“Afghanistan has always been susceptible to droughts but they are becoming more intense and more frequent,” said Sarah Malian, Christian Aidís communications officer for Afghanistan.
“The combination of recurring droughts, soil degradation, and deforestation are plunging more people into poverty and the threat of disease is high. People havenít been able to cope with the failure of their crops which are sending prices of those crops that have not failed sky-high.”
The drought is also affecting long-term development work. Christian Aid has been implementing an agricultural project in Faryab province where large tracts of land no longer have available water resources. Run-off from rains and melting snow are usually stored in underground tanks but rain has been so scarce this year that the tanks have not been replenished.
According to the Afghan government, around 20,000 people have left their homes in search of water and jobs. Men are migrating to cities or to Iran looking for casual labour, leaving the most vulnerable, such as children and the elderly, behind. This migration is worse in the south of the country where fighting between Coalition forces and the Taliban is intensifying.
“There are concerns about accessing those areas where there is currently insurgency fighting”, said Sultan Maqsood Fazil, Christian Aidís advocacy officer in Afghanistan. “It is relatively difficult for aid agencies and the government to get relief assistance into those areas. This will greatly increase displacement and slow down the process of refugee repatriation from neighbouring countries in the long run.”
ACT has launched an appeal in Afghanistan for those worst affected by the drought and more information can be accessed from the ACT website.
Afghanistan in the grip of a devastating drought
-19/10/06
Up to 2.5 million people are facing acute food shortages due to a severe drought which has affected crops throughout the north, west and central regions of Afghanistan, reports Christian Aid.
Another 6.5 million people are facing chronic food insecurity due to the lack of rainfall this year.
An assessment carried out by Christian Aid along with sister agencies from the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) has discovered the shocking impact of the drought in the provinces of Badghis, Bamiyan, Farah, Faryab, Herat, Ghor, and Wardak.
Those most at risk live in areas that are largely dependant on rain-fed agriculture and the rearing of livestock. There are reports of people in rural areas walking more than ten kilometres a day to fetch water. Livestock, which are often the only source of income for their owners, are either dying of thirst or being sold in desperation.
Christian Aid and its ACT partners are responding by providing water, cash-for-work projects, fodder for livestock and counselling. There are also plans to create water reservoirs within communities that may help to minimise the impact of future drought.
“Afghanistan has always been susceptible to droughts but they are becoming more intense and more frequent,” said Sarah Malian, Christian Aidís communications officer for Afghanistan.
“The combination of recurring droughts, soil degradation, and deforestation are plunging more people into poverty and the threat of disease is high. People havenít been able to cope with the failure of their crops which are sending prices of those crops that have not failed sky-high.”
The drought is also affecting long-term development work. Christian Aid has been implementing an agricultural project in Faryab province where large tracts of land no longer have available water resources. Run-off from rains and melting snow are usually stored in underground tanks but rain has been so scarce this year that the tanks have not been replenished.
According to the Afghan government, around 20,000 people have left their homes in search of water and jobs. Men are migrating to cities or to Iran looking for casual labour, leaving the most vulnerable, such as children and the elderly, behind. This migration is worse in the south of the country where fighting between Coalition forces and the Taliban is intensifying.
“There are concerns about accessing those areas where there is currently insurgency fighting”, said Sultan Maqsood Fazil, Christian Aidís advocacy officer in Afghanistan. “It is relatively difficult for aid agencies and the government to get relief assistance into those areas. This will greatly increase displacement and slow down the process of refugee repatriation from neighbouring countries in the long run.”
ACT has launched an appeal in Afghanistan for those worst affected by the drought and more information can be accessed from the ACT website.