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Drought threatens millions in Afghanistan

Millions of people in Afghanistan face starvation after drought destroyed much of the harvest in the north and the west.

Christian Aid, an aid agency, looked at 66 villages and found that farmers in the worst-affected areas had lost their entire crops after the rains failed last winter and spring.

Their study found that most of the water sources in Herat, Badghis and Ghor provinces had dried up while the wheat harvest was down by 90 to 100 percent in parts of Faryab.

The study also revealed that 90 to 100 percent of the rain-dependent harvest in Herat had gone, while harvest reliant on irrigation was down by 40 percent.

Christian Aid urged international donors to pledge funds for Afghanistan's emergency drought appeal -- made by the Afghan government and the UN -- which needs US$76 million.

"People are not dying of starvation yet, but it is very obvious that a great deal of help is needed or the situation will become very serious within a few months," Sultan Maqsood Fazel, of Christian Aid, said.

"Meat is scarce in some areas and people are telling us that their food supplies will not last much longer," he said.

The survey found that farm workers were leaving areas severely affected by drought to find work, placing pressure on other areas with water supplies.

Christian Aid estimates that more than 1 million people in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghor and Herat were affected by the drought.

In July, the UN said that 2.5 million people were suffering from food shortages, in addition to the 6.5 million Afghans in rural areas who suffer from annual seasonal food shortages.
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