May 30, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 29: Experts on Monday called for on-ground assessment of the drought situation in affected areas and sounded a warning note that the ‘as usual business’ approach may see the situation getting out of hand very soon.

Talking to Dawn, United Nations Development Programme assistant representative Zafar Iqbal warned that the drought situation particularly in Balochistan was going from bad to worse.

“What’s more regrettable is that there hasn’t been any assessment as yet of the situation.” He warned that very soon the situation may become acute and there could be mortality because of the drought.

The drought in Balochistan is being currently described by meteorological experts as mild to moderate. The situation in any case is not expected to improve with monsoon and the weather continues to remain hot and dry.

The UN official said since no rains were expected in the critical regions of Balochistan before November, the assessment should be followed by emergency relief for the victims to support themselves and their livestock through this winter to the next spring.

His call for assessment was also supported by director general meteorological department Chaudhry Qamar Zaman who however drew a much brighter picture of the situation.

Speaking about Sindh and parts of southern Punjab, he said they continued to be in the grip of meteorological drought. Meanwhile, Mr Iqbal emphasised a mitigation programme for Sindh, rain-fed regions of Punjab and southern NWFP to prevent the early signs of drought in some of these areas.

He said phase-1 of drought relief programme DERA had ended and the government should approve phase-2. Additionally, water harvesting techniques and intense conservation should be immediately adopted.