NP? starvation in Afghanistan

[Doug Millison]

The greasy one cast seemed to doubt the possiblities of mass starvation in
Afghanistan.  Here's what, "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations said recently. According to
http://www.fao.org/UNFAO/e/wmain-e.htm , theFAO was founded in 1945 with a
mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve
agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural
populations. Today, FAO is one of the largest specialized agencies in the
United Nations system and the lead agency for agriculture, forestry,
fisheries and rural development. An intergovernmental organization, FAO has
180 member countries plus one member organization, the European Community."


http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0173.htm
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 unfavourable
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 neighbouring 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 tonnes 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 duriing 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
programme.

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 tonnes 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 tonnes,
still significantly below the 21 million tonnes harvested last year. The
total cereal production in 2001 is estimated at 26.5 million tonnes, 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
tonnes, about 500,000 tonnes less than the poor harvest of last year and
about one million tonnes less than in 1999 when production was considered
average. Wheat production is estimated at 3.2 million tonnes and rice at
100,000 tonnes, compared with 1999 production levels of 3.6 million tonnes
of wheat and 421,000 tonnes 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 tonnes of wheat, 50,000 tonnes of barley,
20,000 tonnes of maize and 20,000 tonnes 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
tonnes.

**********

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/. For further information or to arrange
interviews, please contact: The FAO Media Relations Office at telephone
number: +39 06 5705 3625 E-mail: john.riddle at fao.org

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