FAO’FoodS R andOLE Agriculture IN THE UN Organization APPEAL of the FOR United WENCHUAN Nations (FAO) EARTHQUAKE EARLY RECOVERY SUPPORT 16 July 2008 FAO’ S ROLE IN THE 2008 H AITI FLASH APPEAL

Background

On 12 May 2008, the Wenchuan Earthquake struck 92 km north In the aftermath of the disaster, many families have to prioritize of the provincial capital of , causing massive rebuilding their homes, leaving no funds available to replace devastation across eight provinces of the People’s Republic of productive assets. This has left them exposed to the risk of a China. The earthquake affected some 46 million people. It took vicious circle whereby the lack of investment leads to reduced over 70 000 lives, destroyed almost 6.5 million homes and left production and, once more, inability to invest. Impoverished by millions homeless, injured, missing, or separated from their the loss of assets, farmers face the additional challenges of families. Over 400 000 people lost their jobs in urban areas and degraded arable land, commercial forestry, access roads and more than 5 million farmers lost their harvests. reservoirs. The seed production system has also suffered massive blows, creating further difficulties for farmers who The counties of Anxian, Beichuan, need to replace lost grain. Jiangyou, , Pingwu and were among the worst affected. Entire In the transition from emergency to villages were destroyed and several rural recovery, continuing support is needed towns had to be completely evacuated. Just to rehabilitate agricultural livelihoods when humanitarian needs were most acute, and restore the food security of China’s damaged road networks rendered many of most vulnerable earthquake victims. the worst hit villages inaccessible. Extensive damage to sanitation, water FAO response distribution and public health services gave In the context of the Appeal, FAO further cause for human suffering. requested USD 2.5 million to assist the Despite a swift national response and Government of China in restoring generous international support, needs Beneficiary of FAO-supported vegetable agricultural livelihoods. So far, FAO has remain high – especially since recovery production in Jiangyou country raised USD 2.4 million thanks to support efforts were set back by torrential rainfall in September 2008. from the governments of Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden. The rains brought landslides and floods to the Sichuan With the funds received, FAO is working closely with the province, destroying vast areas of crops and creating further Ministry of Agriculture and relevant line ministries through a hardships for those still living in shelters. two-pronged approach: The UN China Appeal for Wenchuan Earthquake Early • In the most affected villages, key inputs to revive Recovery Support was launched on 16 July 2008 and appealed production of a “lead crop” are distributed to for a total of USD 33.5 million. The Food and Agriculture farming families. Activities are underway to boost Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International production and marketing of vegetables, garlic, Labour Organization and the United Nations Development potatoes, canola, tea, plums, pears and edible Programme are the lead agencies for livelihoods, with FAO mushrooms. supporting Government efforts in the agricultural sector. • In severely affected areas with diverse input needs, farmers receive cash vouchers to procure inputs of Challenges facing food security and livelihoods their choice in local stores, thereby strengthening Widespread crop and irrigation destruction and the loss of seed village-level agricultural input trade. stocks, farm tools and machinery have left millions of farmers’ livelihoods eroded. An estimated 30 percent of the 2008 wheat Further needs crop has been lost, along with 60 million bags for edible Further funding is urgently needed to kick-start rehabilitation of mushroom production. Some 100 000 hectares of paddy fields the livestock, aquaculture and forestry sectors in Sichuan have dried out because of damage to irrigation systems. The province. All of FAO’s ongoing and forthcoming earthquake livestock sector has also suffered heavy losses, including rehabilitation interventions take the form of pilot projects. They 32 million animal deaths and the destruction of 27 million square are designed to set innovative, sustainable and safe examples metres of shelter. The depletion of vegetation due to landslides for a much larger Government-led rehabilitation process and quake-lakes has seriously affected the livelihoods of forest expected to take off in 2009. farmers and caused tremendous ecological damage.

For more information please contact: Ms Hilde Niggemann Ms Victoria SEKITOLEKO Senior Operations Officer FAO Representative, China FAO Emergency Operations Service Office of the FAO Representation in China Viale Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy Jianguomenwai Jianwai Diplomatic Compound 4-2-151 and 152 Office: +39 (06)570 53286 , 100600, China Email: [email protected] Tel: +86 (0)10 65322835 Fax: +86 (0)10 65325042 Website: www.fao.org/emergencies Email: [email protected]