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Tajikistan: Mudslide DREF Operation No. MDRTJ005 - Update no. 1

Countries
Tajikistan
Sources
IFRC
Publication date

The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.

Period covered by this update: 23 April to 30 April 2009.

Summary: CHF 157,347 was allocated from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 23 April 2009 to support the National Society in delivering assistance to some 750 people and to replenish disaster preparedness stocks.

According to the updated information from the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, the number of families in need of shelter is 114 (684 persons). The total population affected is around 1,836 people (306 households) out of 6,000 residents of the village against the initially estimated number of 1,500 people (300 households). The non-food items were transported from the Red Crescent central warehouse to the Kurgan- Tube regional branch and distributed among 101 households (493 people) based on the lists of beneficiaries compiled together with the local administration, the State Committee of Emergency Situations (CoES) and in accordance with the Red Crescent's assessment.

The European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the Netherlands Red Cross through their Silent Emergency Fund1 have announced a contribution of EUR 50,000 and EUR 30,000 respectively in replenishment of the DREF allocation made for this operation. The major donors to the DREF are the Irish, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian governments. Details of all donors can be found on http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/responding/drs/tools/dref/donors.asp

The situation

As a result of heavy rains for over a week, on 21 April at 8 pm local time, a mudslide affected 306 households, or around 1,836 people and killed a seven year old boy in Khuroson district, jamoat Ayni, 18th Hizb village in Khatlon province, Kurgantube region. The disaster site is located 30 km from Kurgantube city and 75 km from the capital city of Dushanbe. This mudslide is reported by the local population to be the biggest over the past 50 years.

The mudslide continued moving through the canyon up to 24 April affecting further houses in the area. According to the updated information from the Tajikistan Red Crescent, the number of families in need of shelter is 114 (684 persons). The total population affected is around 1,836 people (306 households) out of the 6,000 residents of the village against the initial number of 1,500 people (300 households).

The affected population with support from the CoES continued saving their belongings and some construction materials from their houses. In total 87 houses are in inhabitable conditions. Some of the affected people were relocated to relatives and neighbours.

The newly set up tent camp is located 1.5-2 km away from the village hit by the disaster. On 26 April 107 tents for the worst affected households were installed where now 642 people are settled. Four mobile water tanks (5MT capacity each) released from the UN Emergency Reserve were installed by the CoES in the camp. Water in the tanks is refilled on a daily basis by water trucks provided by local authorities. A separate cooking area with two fireplaces has been arranged in the tent camp. Four public latrines were also built at the territory of the tent camp; and more latrines are being constructed.

Food rations for 20 days were provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the private sector for 107 households in the tent camp and to 193 households (1,134 persons) whose houses had been partly damaged.