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Tajikistan

Tajikistan: Flash Floods - Information Bulletin n° 1


The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.

In Brief

This Bulletin No. 1/2005 is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time. Any change in this will be detailed in a later bulletin.

The Situation

After torrential rains in mid-may 2005, several districts in Tajikistan were affected by floods. Torrential rains from 10 to 12 May caused flash floods in Rudaky (RRS), Murgab (GBAO), Ganchy, Istaravshan and Bobojon Gafurov (Sughd Oblast) districts. According to the Ministry of Emergencies , more than 660 houses and 12km of the roads, 200 hectares of cotton fields and other crops and bridges were washed away along with electricity pylons and telegraph poles. In the village of Kuktosh in Rudaki district over 200 homes and buildings were destroyed. Some districts of the southern Khatlon province were also affected, with 36 houses damaged and part of the local railway line washed away.

The following Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) situation assessment report of 12 May was submitted by a national society branch. In the Jamoats of Lohur and Guliston in Rudaki district (33 km south of Dushanbe), 55 households (446 people) are affected in the villages Lohur, Tubek, Tailanobod and Jangiobod. Eight houses were destroyed and eight households (78 people) were evacuated to a school in the rayon centre. The most affected Jamoat in Rudaki district is Guliston. The following table shows findings of the assessment, which was conducted in Guliston Jamoat:

Jamoat/Village
Affected families
People
Number of destroyed houses
Number of damaged houses
Mugulon
30
233
30
Sabzikor
47
324
36
11
Kairagoch
75
509
7
48
Zarteppa
22
139
9
13
Jangikurgon
25
203
4
21
Guliston jamoat
141
1018
50
91
Tezgary bolo
25
270
2
2
Total
365
2696
138
186

A total of 65 houses were affected as a result of floods and underground water accumulation in Sughd oblast (the rayons; Ganchi, Istaravshan and B.Gafurov). 30 out of these 65 houses were destroyed, 160 livestock were killed, 60 to 80 km of road was flooded, and 40 hectares of cotton and other crop fields was washed away. One casualty has been reported.

A total 36 families (314 people) lost their properties due to floods in Shohmansur and Somony rayon, near Dushanbe city.

Red Crescent action

The RCST responded to the disaster by conducting assessments and providing humanitarian aid to affected people. With its available but limited resources the RCST has provided the following items:

  • Vegetable oil - 27 kg
  • Sugar - 27kg
  • Soap - 30 pcs
  • Quilts - 36
  • Woolen blankets - 96
  • Bed linen - 36
  • Hygiene packets - 37
  • Kitchen sets - 18
  • Plastic buckets - 18

The items were distributed to the most affected people in Rudaki, Shohmansur and Somony rayon. Situation assessment is continuing in Guliston Jamoat of Rudaki district which has become the most affected Jamoat in the disaster area.

For further information:

The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, email: rcstj01@mail.ru, phone number: 992372 24 03 74, fax number: 992372 24 53 78

Head of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Selva Sinnadurai, email: hod@ifrcdsb.org , phone: + 992372 244296 or 245981, fax:+992372 248520

Geneva secretariat: regional officer Sylvie Chevalley, email: Sylvie.chevalley@ifrc.org phone: 41 22 730 4276.

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org