A survey of drought impacts and coping measures in Helmand and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan

The paper presents the results of a field survey conducted in two severely drought-hit southern provinces of Afghanistan to get the first-hand information on the impacts of droughts on livelihood systems and personal security of the population at the household and village level. Kandahar and Helmand provinces were selected for the representation of rain-fed and irrigated areas respectively. During the recent drought of 1999-2001, these two provinces received less than 50% of their normal rainfall.