Tajikistan: Compound crisis OCHA Situation Report No. 7

This report is based on information provided by the Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT), the Committee of Emergency Situations and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan.

HIGHLIGHTS

In view of the continuous high risk of flash floods/landslides, efforts continue to urgently raise funds and purchase "Household Emergency Assistance Package"(HEAP) to be pre-positioned in the most vulnerable areas. A funding proposal for USD 1.4 million was presented on 8 April to donors in Dushanbe.

In addition, the scale of locust's infestation is predicted to be exceptionally high this year. USD 500,000 is being sought urgently by FAO to treat the concerned areas and to avoid a potentially catastrophic outbreak.

Clusters are reviewing the status of the response to the Flash Appeal, with a view to issuing an update, including identified urgent additional projects such as treatment of locust infested areas.

SITUATION

1. Likelihood of floods and landslides remain high all over the country there are parallel threats related to localized drought.

2. Locusts infested areas are feared to exceed 150,000 hectares, an increase of nearly thirty percent from 2007. This large increase is due to both favourable weather conditions and incomplete spraying last year and thus larger than normal amount of locusts' eggs developing to adult stage. The pest is developing quicker and earlier than usual and action is extremely time sensitive.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

3. In a continued effort to mitigate the effects of a potential sudden onset disaster, The Household Emergency Assistance Package proposal was presented to the donors in Dushanbe last week, seeking urgent funding of USD 1.4 million to purchase and preposition reserves of emergency shelter and non-food items (i.e. items meeting basic needs in the areas of water, sanitation, cooking) to a level which will permit the provision of immediate assistance to up to 1, 500 households.

4. In addition, all clusters are reviewing their emergency stocks and composing inventories of material, human and cash resources which could be re-directed to supplement HEAP assistance packages. Food stocks, sanitation and hygiene items, as well as education materials are being identified for potential use in case of a sudden onset disaster. The immediate response inventory should be completed by the following week.

5. FAO is appealing for USD 500,000 to cover the cost of procurement of pesticides and equipment necessary to address locust infestation. Unless funds are received by the third week of April, it is feared that it will not be possible to avert a large outbreak.

6. According to information gathered in Dushanbe, the response to the Flash Appeal has now reached USD 12.4 million, i.e. 49 percent of what has been asked for in the appeal. The Government of Tajikistan also reports a number of bilateral in-kind (food, fuel, non-food items) and cash contributions. More information on contributions is available on http://www.untj.org/?c=7&id=238.

7. Pending additional donor support, the UK Government made a tentative pledge for the procurement of the Household Emergency Assistance Package. This is expected to be confirmed next week.

Contact Details:

Tel: + 41-22-917 12 34
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only:
Tel. + 41 22 917 2010

UN Office in Tajikistan

Mr. Michael Jones
Resident Coordinator
Tel: + 992 47 441 0680

OCHA Office in Almaty:

Ms. Gabriella Waaijman
Tel: + 7 727 2528 643
+ 7 777 7809 071
E-mail: waaijman@un.org

Mr. Ali Buzurukov
Tel: + 7 727 2528 643
+ 7 777 7809 073
E-mail: buzurukov@un.org
(English and Russian speaking)

Desk Officers/Focal Points:

Ms. Séverine Rey (New York)
Tel. + 1 917 367 5336
Fax: + 1 212 963 3630
E-mail: rey@un.org

Ms. AoibheannO'Keeffe (Geneva)
Tel. + 41 22 917 4329
E-mail: okeeffe@un.org

Press Contact:

(Geneva)
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653
Fax: + 41 22 917 0020
E-mail: byrs@un.org

(New York)
Ms. Christina Bennett
Tel: + 1 917 367 8059
Fax: + 1 212 963 1312
E-mail: bennett1@un.org

(Dubai)
Ms. Nadia Evans
Tel. + 971 50 227 9808
E-mail: evans2@un.org