wfn.org | ADRA, USDA Work To Meet Needs In Naxcivan

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

October 1, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA, USDA Work To Meet Wheat Deficit Needs In Naxcivan

Baku, Azerbaijan. (APD)  The Adventist Development and 
Relief Agency (ADRA) in co-ordination with the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will donate 
11,550 tons (10,500 metric tonnes) of U.S. wheat grain 
to Azerbaijan. The wheat will be delivered to the 
Naxcivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) where ADRA will mill it 
into flour, and sell a portion to meet some of NAR's wheat 
deficit needs.

The US$1.7 million expected to be raised from this 
monetization program will be allocated to fund two, two-year 
programs in agricultural development and primary health care, 
according to Bryan Cox, ADRA Azerbaijan operations director. 
The programs will assist internally displaced people (IDPs), 
refugees and vulnerable people of Azerbaijan in the front line 
regions of Azerbaijan. The project is part of ADRA's continuing 
efforts to meet the development needs of the Azeri people in 
this 8-year-old conflict with Armenia.

"Azerbaijan currently has nearly1 million IDPs, two-thirds of 
whom are occupying temporary shelter in camps, railway cars 
or public buildings," says Cox. "ADRA aims to develop the 
agricultural potential for the IDPs who have access to land 
while also developing vocational training for those who do 
not."

As part of the agriculture development program, ADRA will 
open a vocational training centre with a 500-student capacity 
to offer IDPs the opportunity to develop skills sufficient to 
enter the workforce or become self sustainable. This centre 
will also be used for agricultural training and demonstration.

ADRA will also provide input to potential micro-farmers and 
work with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and 
Development Programme (UNDP) to develop programs that 
offer sustainable solutions for the people of this conflict, 
according to Cox. The current concepts include food-for-work 
for development of land and agricultural irrigation systems, 
and provide food-for-training and micro-loans for the purchase 
of vocational equipment such as sewing machines and carpet-
making equipment. 

"There has also been the provisional concept of opening a 
trade centre in Baku to act as a hub for the sale of outputs 
produced by the vocational students and loan recipients," 
adds Cox. "The development of a new primary health care 
component will provide much needed care to IDPs and 
refugees that is otherwise not available."

ADRA will open a high capacity central clinic with four mobile 
health teams to serve many smaller regional health points. 
This program will provide numerous health services including 
child immunisation, general consultation and referral service, 
provision and supply of much needed drugs, and education. 
This primary care program will be similar to the program 
currently operated by ADRA in NAR with an emphasis on local 
capacity building and self sustainability. (Editor: Beth Schaefer 
for APD)