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Tajikistan: Floods and Landslides - Apr 1998

Estado
Pasado
Países
Tayikistán
Tipos de desastres
Inundación
+ 1

Torrential rains have caused widespread destruction throughout Tajikistan. Rain began on 23 April and quickly wreaked havoc, destroying property, houses, infrastructures and crops. On 30 April , the government of Tajikistan requested assistance from the UN in mobilizing the international community to support national relief efforts. The Gharm district was affected by major landslides on 26 April . The town of Navdi suffered the most in terms of casualties and damage. Preliminary reports indicate 50 dead, 12 missing, 141 families homeless. 60 houses completely destroyed and 100 damaged. Other towns affected are Aini, Sakhrinav, Varzob and Konsomlobad. [...] Following government reports, agencies have visited the district, focusing on Kulyab area. Initial assessments indicate that 2,000 people are affected, 36 houses have been destroyed and 500 flood-damaged. Infrastructural damage include 7 bridges, Kulyab town sewage system, 20 electric pylons and a dam connected to water purification installations is near to collapse. 1,500 hectares of agricultural land have been flooded. Only one death has been reported in Kulyab. 400 people have been temporarily housed in public buildings or have been hosted by relatives. Further assessment is being conducted by UNOPS, Merlin and mission OST. Merlin reported that 4 boreholes which supply Kulyab town (100,000 people) are now contaminated with flood water and the river which supplies the southern towns of Moskovski and Pianj is also contaminated. Local medical authorities and Merlin are concerned that water borne epidemics could result. (OCHA, 1 May 1998)

Reports from the southern part of the country, Khatlon district, indicate that flooding in the area continues to endanger most of the population as water level rises. Although rain stopped on 4 May, the water level has not decreased and any further rain / meltwater will result in more population displacement. With rivers and channels already flooded and/or damaged, it is expected that the present conditions will continue for the coming weeks. [...] The most affected area is in/around SARVINE, in the VOSE district, where 3,000 people have been affected and two villages destroyed. IFRC also reported serious damages in MUMINABAD and KULYAB districts, where eight villages are flooded and 336 houses destroyed. Some areas are still reported inaccessible due to the collapse of bridges. [...] In the north-east of Tajikistan, Gharm district, there are no reports of new landslides. The Aga Khan Foundation reported that last week, in SHULONAK village, a landslide had killed seven people. Preliminary reports indicate major damage to crops. As rain is continuing, also the risk of additional landslides remains high. (OCHA, 5 May 1998)

Reports from the southern part of the country indicate that the most affected areas remain VOSE and KULYAB districts in the Khatlon region. New rains affected the area on the morning of 6 May. As a consequence, UNOPS reported a rise in water levels around Shartuis, south of Kurgan Teppah, close to the Afghan border. [...] In the north-east of Tajikistan, Gharm and Aini districts remain under the threat of new landslides. The Aga Khan Foundation has been requested to act as focal point for the collection of information. They reported that Navdi was the town requiring most assistance. Consolidated reports indicated that 70 families lost their homes, while 102 other had their houses damaged. In addition, 500 heads of livestock were killed, 15 km of power lines, 5 transformers, 6 km of roads, 4 bridges and 2 schools destroyed. (OCHA, 8 May 1998)

Heavy rainfall in the night of 17 May 1998 and during the day of 18 May 1998 have once again flooded various areas of the country, including Dushanbe. The northern part of the city has seen severe damage. There are a total of 58 houses totally damaged in this area. The people have lost food, clothing, household items and furniture. They are now living with their relatives or neighbours, and some have moved to the mosques. The eastern part of Dushanbe has also seen some damages: a total of 4 houses have been totally destroyed. The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan started with the distribution of non-food items on May 19. The road to the airport was covered with mud more than 0.5 meter thick; many other streets in the city were covered with mud. (OCHA, 25 May 1998)

The season of heavy rains is over and the flood-water of earlier this year has subsided. Tajik authorities and humanitarian organizations continue to provide relief to the victims of the flooding and landslides of this spring. Currently they are involved in initiatives aimed at controlling the effects of such floods in the future. There is, however, a threat of additional flooding along the bank of the Panj river, due to a high increase in the runoff of melting glaciers. [...] Fortunately the damage is limited to date. In Maskowski district, the village Sovchoz Turdiyev was evacuated for one night and 10 houses were damaged by the rising ground water. A bank enforcement and dam were also washed away. (OCHA, 24 Jul 1998)