Nimroz Rapid Drought Assessment Zaranj, Kang and Chakhansoor Districts Conducted August 21st-22nd 2013

Figure 1 Dead livestock in Kang district

Figure 2 Nimroz district map Relief International in Nimroz Relief International (RI) is a humanitarian, non‐profit, non‐sectarian agency that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, and development interventions throughout the world. Since 2001, RI has supported a wide array of relief and development interventions throughout Afghanistan. RI programs focus on community participation, ensuring sustainability and helping communities establish a sense of ownership over all stages of the project cycle. Relief International has been working in Nimroz province since 2007, when RI took over implementation of the National Solidarity Program, as well as staff and offices, from Ockenden International. Through more than five years of work in partnership with Nimroz communities, RI has formed deep connections with communities, government, and other stakeholders such as UN agencies. RI has offices and is currently working in all districts of Nimroz, except for the newly added Delaram district (formerly belonging to Farah Province). RI has recently completed an ECHO WASH and shelter program and a DFID funded local governance program , and is currently implementing the National Solidarity Program and a food security and livelihoods program in the province.

Nimroz General Information related to Drought Nimroz province is the most South Westerly Province of Afghanistan bordering Iran and Pakistan. The provincial capital is Zaranj, located in the west on the Iranian border. The population is estimated at 350,000 although, as for the rest of Afghanistan, no exact demographic data exists.1 There has been a flow of returnees from Iran over the last years, and the provincial capital has also grown due to internal migration.

Nimroz is a province facing numerous challenges due to physical and social factors, with a difficult climate, harsh desert conditions and limited availability of water. Nimroz is both susceptible to prolonged droughts and to yearly spring floods. In addition Nimroz regularly has sand storms during the dry season. When there is a drought, these sand storms become stronger as vegetation is reduced and as soil is dried out. These sand storms damage water sources, getting into the wells and damaging the inside parts of wells, and also fill canals and other irrigation infrastructure. (Please see annex 1 for further information). However, while Nimroz always suffers from water scarcity particularly during the dry season July – October the drought declared this year can be considered exceptional. There has not been one of the same level for over a decade in the province.

Nimroz has limited water sources. The main sources of water are the Helmand River flowing from the south through Charburjack and Zaranj provinces where it is running along the border with Iran, and from the North West the Khash Rod River ending in Kang district. The rivers and canals are dry for much of the year, and flow of the most important water source, the Helmand River is influenced by sometimes political decisions on opening the Kajaki dam in Helmand and also on influence from neighbouring Iran. There are limited options for well digging, shallow wells are the most common but often dry up or become brackish. There are limited deep well digging options in the province as well. The context and needs also vary greatly between the different districts within Nimroz itself, regarding water availability, sources and quality.

1 This is an estimate RI arrived at through discussions with government departments and other actors in the province. Some actors estimate the population to be larger than that, while the official figures are much lower.

Nimroz is isolated in relation to central government and has limited ability to leverage support, as can be seen in the dilapidated infrastructure. The relatively sparse population, geographical distance, and compared to other southern provinces, relatively better security situation, have contributed towards a lack of interest in the province from both Kabul and the donor community, there has been no response to the drought within the province, and there are a very limited number of actors present.

Droughts are affecting communities in Nimroz on a broad level. For example migration of families due to lack of water can lead to multiple vulnerabilities for communities, including deterioration of security, and difficulty for the remaining population to maintain water sources such as wells, and irrigation infrastructures such as canals with the reduced manpower and resources. In addition drought has a strong impact on women and children. With reduced livelihood opportunities and fewer people to work children are often taken out of school in order to work and help with household chores, while Nimroz already has a high rate of child labor with about 28%2. In addition malnutrition tends to worsen through droughts, and already about 34% of the population in Nimroz is calorie deficient3.

Figure 3 Nimroz map with water sources

Figure 4 Well in a dried river bed in Kang

2 Afghanistan provincial briefs, June 2011 WB and GOA. 3 Ibid. Drought Assessment

Date: 21st and 22nd August 2013

Conducted by: RI field team under Zabihullah Honar the Provincial Program Coordinator

Objective: Assess the impact of the drought in selected villages and use as basis to propose required response activities

Province, Districts: Nimroz Province (Zaranj, Chakhansoor and Kang districts)

Number of villages: 54 villages surveyed (32 Zaranj, 11 Chakhansoor and 11 Kang)

Methodology: A sampling methodology was used based on a list of affected villages provided to RI by Rural Rehabilitation Department (RRD) of Nimroz, based on an RI request. This list was cross checked with feedback from RI staff and the most vulnerable villages selected as a sample.

The survey was adapted from ERF format to assess villages at the community level, and was responded to by the Community Development Councils (CDCs) of each village. The figures for health, for reasons of greater accuracy, are from local clinics in each district.

Population: In surveyed villages 5,813 HH are affected with an estimated total population of nearly 30,000.

Summary of Findings

All three surveyed districts of Nimroz have been severely impacted by the drought, though it has affected each one in different ways according to their context and coping strategies, which needs to be considered when putting together an appropriate response.

Water Availability

The figures below show that water availability, severely exacerbated by the drought, is not enough to meet the needs of the population, severely impacting livelihoods and health (as discussed later)

Has water availability in Nimroz Province decreased due to the drought? 100%

50%

0% Yes No

Is there enough water available for drinking?

Kang Chakansoor Yes Zaranj No

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Is there enough water available for drinking AND washing?

Kang Chakansoor Yes Zaranj No

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Water Sources and cost

Each of the districts relies on different sources for their water, which each bring their own set of problems.

Zaranj has always been nearly fully reliant on water tankering (except for some areas of Zaranj city, where piped water is available coming from Iran) and since the drought began relies solely on this as no other sources are functioning/available. Due to increased pressure and water shortages the price of water in Zaranj has doubled since the drought to almost 20 AFN per 20 litre jerry can, and all are paying for water.

In Chakansoor there is no tankering at all at village level, so communities are forced to look further afield when their other sources (wells/streams) fail. The price of water has not increased but the number of those paying for water has increased by 300% since the drought began.

In Kang there is very limited tankering, especially outside of the surroundings of the district centre so when water sources fail communities are forced to look further afield to try and find water, or to abandon their homes altogether and move in search of water. The number paying has decreased, but for those who currently have to pay for water the price has increased by 167% since the drought began.

Accesible village water Sources for communities (before drought) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Zaranj 20% 10% Chakansoor 0% Kang

% of sources - wells/ rivers/ ponds/ springs currently functioning (excluding tankering) 100%

80% % of wells/ rivers/ ponds/ 60% springs currently 40% functioning 20% (excluding tankering) 0% Zaranj Chakansoor Kang

Cost of water

Zaranj Cost per Chakansoor 20 litre currently? Kang (Afhs)

Total Average

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0

Changes in numbers paying for water Change in price (%)

Change in number Total paying for… Average Kang Paying for water now Chakansoor (%) Paying for Zaranj water in the past (%)

-25% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 225% 250% 275% 300%

Do people have to travel further to collect water since the drought?*

Zaranj

Chakansoor No Yes Kang

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

* In Zaranj, due to the reliance on water tankering, the increased distances are not so marked. However in Chakansoor average distance required to get water now stands at 5.8km. In Kang the problem is more severe and average distance is now around 15km.

Figure 5 Water transport in Chakhansoor Figure 6 Water fetching in Kang Impact on Health

As can be seen from the data collected from BRAC administered District Health clinics, there has been a marked increase in cases of diarrhea since the period when the impacts of the drought were just starting to be felt. With watery diarrhea figures more than doubling in Kang and Chakansoor as communities are forced to try and identify alternative water sources due to the drought. A reduction in the amount of available water is also shown by a near trebling of cases of diarrhea and dehydration.

Although the last quarter figures are not yet available indications from the field are that they continue to rise.

There have also been reports of other illnesses affecting communities, including respiratory tract diseases related to the poor air quality caused by sand storms.

Incidence of Diarrhea at District Level 6750 6500 6250 6000 5750 5500 5250 5000 4750 last three 4500 month of 4250 4000 1391* (# of 3750 Patients) 3500 3250 3000 2750 2500 2250 first three 2000 months of 1750 1500 1392* (# of 1250 Patients) 1000 750 500 250

0

AcuteWater Diarrhea AcuteWater Diarrhea AcuteWater Diarrhea AcuteWater Diarrhea

Diarrhea/Dehydration Diarrhea/Dehydration Diarrhea/Dehydration Diarrhea/Dehydration

AcuteBloody Diarrhea AcuteBloody Diarrhea AcuteBloody Diarrhea AcuteBloody Diarrhea Zaranj Chak Kang Total Zaranj Chak Kang Total Zaranj Chak Kang Total

* The last period of 1391 coincides approximately from Mid December 2012-Md March 2013. The first period of 1392 is approximately mid-March – Mid June. Impact on Livelihoods

The increase in cost and difficulties of accessing water are impacting people’s lives through increase in time and money being spent on accessing water. This runs parallel to a reduction in people’s income caused through a negative impact of the drought on livelihood support options.

In a province where rural villages especially rely on animal husbandry and agriculture for income support the impact of the drought on livestock in particular can be seen as catastrophic, with animals sickening or dying and those still saleable being sold, often at low rates as people have no option but to sell.

The impact on agriculture is not yet clear; the planting season is usually October/November in Nimroz and could be severely affected if the drought continues.

Importance of different livelihoods

Other

Daily labor Total Kang Animal Husbandry Chak Zaranj Farming

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Impact of drought on assets: Livestock 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% Zaranj 40% 30% Chak 20% Nimroz 10% 0% Total Yes no Yes No Yes No yes no Is there Enough Have livestock Have families sold Have livestock been water for livestock? sickened as a result some/all livestock as dying as a result of of drought? a result of drought? lack of water?

Impact on Communities

The lack of accessible affordable water and lack of livelihoods has also led to large numbers of families having no option but to leave their homes and move to neighbouring village, district centres and even neighbouring provinces. In Zaranj this is less, but in Kang over one quarter of the total number of families in the surveyed villages has moved away, within the province or even to other provinces as a result of the drought, leaving them in a very precarious position.

Number of families leaving villages due to drought. Zaranj (2%) Number Chak (8%) of families in village Kang (27%) Number who left Total (7%)

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000

As can be seen from the graph below the majority of families leaving their villages are going to neighbouring provinces (mostly Farah), a province with a higher rate of insecurity than Nimroz. This is particularly the case in Zaranj, which could be attributed to the higher number of returnees from Iran and IDPs from neighbouring provinces who are now having little choice but to move on again.

In all provinces the movement to neighbouring villages, where there may be water, is increasing the pressure on the locations where there is some water, and observations from the field have shown that there are arguments breaking out over access to water sources. In Kang and Chakhansoor there has been movement to district centres where there is slightly better availability of water, in Kang this included families moving to Zaranj as well as Kang district centre but again this is increasing the pressure on the sources and the burden on those left behind in the villages.

Destinations of those families leaving their villages 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Zaranj * Iran

Chak* Neighboring village District Kang* Centres Neighboring Total* Provinces

* In Zaranj 47% of villages reported families leaving, 55% in Chakhansoor and 100% in Kang. Recommendations for Response

1. For Kang and Chakansoor there is a need for water tankering in the short term (along with distribution of chlorine tabs and water containers) in order to meet the short term gaps caused by the drought. 2. In the medium term there is work to be done on the rehabilitation and rebuilding of wells in Kang and Chakansoor to ensure long term stability of water sources at the village level. This can be done alongside manufacture and distribution of Bio Sand Filters to ensure water is of adequate drinking quality. Although this was not directly assessed in the current assessment, we would recommend well rehabilitation and rebuilding also for the more remote areas of Zaranj district. 3. There is also an urgent need for Cash for Work opportunities in all districts, to allow those who rely on water tankering to access adequate water, and provide immediate support to population whose livelihoods have been affected. Cash for work can be combined with work on water sources, clearing the effects of sandstorms as well as related agricultural improvement infrastructure. This will help short term recovery from the drought impacts. 4. Longer term sustainable livelihood recovery programmes will be needed in impacted areas; either to rebuild livestock/agriculture livelihoods where long term water supply can be assured. Or to look at alternative livelihood options which would not be harmed by droughts. 5. In the longer term there is a need to look into sustainable long term water sources in Nimroz, where scarcity of water is a long term issue. These would be much larger scale infrastructure projects such as dams and canals across the province.

Annex 1

Summary of Rapid Assessment on Sandstorms in Nimroz late August 2013

Due to its climate and topography Nimroz suffers from sandstorms year round. They are always particularly strong during the dry season of March-October.

However this year due to the severity of the drought the impact of these storms has been much worse, the lack of water means there is less vegetation and an increased amount of dust and sand which can be blown around during high winds and fill canals, rivers, wells and other water sources. This makes access to drinking water in the short term more difficult. It can also cause longer term problems, for example raising the height of the river bed which would make flooding more likely when the water does eventually start flowing again. In addition currently the sand has impacted road travel on district as well as the main provincial road where stretches are overblown with sand.

The sand storms also exacerbate the effect of the drought on both humans and livestock. There are reports of increased respiratory illnesses due to the storms. Already water starved livestock will become even more weakened through the blowing sand, and the little vegetation left might be covered by sand.

As can be seen from below the impact differs across the districts, with the more rural villages of Chakansoor and Kang the most impacted.

Sandstorm affected areas in Nimroz province Province District Remarks Severe difficulties to access drinking water, many of the wells became full of sand due to sand storms, transportation problems due the blockage of Chakansoor roads (which could also impact tankering), some canals such as Sikhsar big stream became filled with sand. There have been reports of outbreaks of respiratory tract disorders and illnesses. In many of the villages the difficulties are leading to residents leaving their home. Some rivers, such as the Khashrod river is now full of sand so community transportation and access to drinking water even from other locations Kang becomes more difficult. Most of the smaller streams are also filling with Nimroz sand and this is linked to increasing illness and death of livestock which is crucial for incomes. The Zaranj Delaram highway at the Chigini and Dako areas has been Zaranj affected by sand storms so the transportation between Zaranj and other provinces and Zaranj and some districts such as Chakansoor and Khashrod Khashrod is becoming increasingly difficult. The sand storms have created transportation problems between Zaranj and Charborjak due to the sand build up causing blockages at the Charborjak Qalafath area.

The recommendations tie into the drought recommendations with the emphasis on CFW activities focusing on negating the impact of the sand storm on water sources

Any well rehabilitation and construction should be designed in a way to minimise future impact of sandstorms, for example hand dug wells are particularly susceptible during a sand storm and quickly become unusable.