Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
the federal government matched this sheep subsidy up
to a maximum of $A3 per head. However, the main aim
of the federal government's drought aid package, which
totalled approximately $A400 million, was to prevent
the decimation of breeding stock so vital to rebuilding
Australia's sheep and cattle export markets.
Attempts at conserving and supplying water were
also energetically pursued. The Victorian government
cancelled indefinitely all leave for drilling-rig operators
working in the mining industry, and redirected them to
bore-drilling operations. The number of water tankers
proved insufficient to meet demand, and the state
resorted to filling plastic bags with water and shipping
them where needed. In New South Wales, water
allocations from dams and irrigation projects were cut
in half and then totally withdrawn as the capacity of
many dams dwindled to less than 25 per cent. Broken
Hill's water supply was threatened as the Darling River
dried up. Water in Adelaide, which is drawn from the
Murray River, reached unsafe drinking limits as salinity
increased through evaporation. To save trees within
downtown Adelaide, trenches were dug around the
trees and roots were hand-watered. Many other country
towns and cities suffered a severe curtailment of water
usage except for immediate domestic requirements.
While the 1982-1983 drought caused farmers
economic hardship, the financial response of state and
federal governments was relatively minor. The drought
cost farmers an estimated $A2500 million and resulted
in a $A7500 million shortfall in national income.
Government relief (both state and federal) probably did
not exceed $A600 million, with most of this aid directed
towards fodder subsidies. In Australia, in most cases,
the individual farmer must bear the financial brunt of
droughts and 1982-1983 drought was no exception.
Many farmers were forced to increase their debt load,
with personal interest rates as high as 20 per cent, to the
point where their farming operations became econom-
ically unviable even when favorable times returned.
The continued high interest rates following this drought
and the over-capitalization of many Australian farmers
have ensured a rural decline throughout the latter part
of the twentieth century.
United Nations or the Red Cross. The United Nations
Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO) was established by
the General Assembly in 1972, and financed partly
through the United Nations budget and the Voluntary
Trust Fund for Disaster Relief Assistance. The latter
channel allows countries, sensitive about contributing
to the overall running cost of the United Nations, to
participate in disaster relief funding. UNDRO gathers
and disseminates information about impending
disasters (in the form of situation reports) to govern-
ments and potential donors. It conducts assessment
missions and, working through 100 developing coun-
tries, uses trained, experienced personnel who can
open channels of communication with government
officials in disaster-prone areas, irrespective of the
political beliefs of that government or area. It has a
responsibility for mobilizing relief contributions and
ensuring the rapid transport of relief supplies. During
times of disaster, it can call upon other agencies for
personnel to implement programs. It also has the duty
of assessing major relief programs, and advising
governments on the mitigation of future natural
disasters.
There are a number of other United Nations offices
that are involved less directly in drought relief. The
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health
Organization (WHO), and World Food Programme
(WFP), while mainly involved in long-term relief
in underdeveloped countries, can provide emergency
services and advice. In addition, the World Meteoro-
logical Organization (WMO) monitors climate, and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) is involved in the construc-
tion of dams for drought mitigation. The International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World
Bank) finances these mitigation projects, as well as
lending money to Third World countries for
reconstruction after major disasters.
Temporary infrastructure to handle specific disas-
ters can also be established from time to time. In
response to the Ethiopian-Sudanese drought of the
early 1980s, the United Nations Office for Emergency
Operations in Africa (UNOEOA) was established
to coordinate relief activities. This organization
channeled $US4.5 billion of aid from 35 countries,
47 non-government organizations and half-a-dozen
other United Nations organizations, into northern
Africa during this drought. Credited with saving
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
International relief organizations
By far the largest and most pervasive international
relief organizations are the ones associated with the
