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Tajikistan Food insecurity DREF operation n° MDRTJ012

Countries
Tajikistan
Sources
IFRC
Publication date

CHF 189,270 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan in delivering immediate assistance to some 3,000 beneficiaries (500 families). Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: In addition to the recent global economic, financial and food crisis, Tajikistan had to face a fuel crisis in 2011 leading to a further increase of fuel prices, which in turn caused overall price hikes and adversely affected the vulnerable groups of the Tajik population.

On 27 February 2012, at a meeting with the representatives of international organizations, Tajikistan Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sijouddin Isroilov announced that Tajikistan’s agrarian sector is in an acute need of international aid to mitigate the effects of prolonged unfavourable weather conditions like a dry autumn in 2010 and a dry spring in 2011, coupled with an early drop of temperatures in the autumn of 2011, and heavy snowfalls, which caused serious damage to the country’s agrarian sector.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report, prepared by the World Food Programme in January 2012, shows that the most affected area in Tajikistan is Murgab district, which is located in a remote, hardly accessible, mountainous area in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast is considered to fall under the category of humanitarian emergency according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report.

The assessment of the situation related to food insecurity, conducted by the Tajikistan Red Crescent`s Murgab district branch, revealed the danger that the situation can deteriorate because of severe climate conditions, remoteness and inaccessibility of roads to the district areas, reduced food stocks, fewer employment opportunities and less income from foreign remittances. The number of vulnerable people may further increase due to the deep snow and the blockage of roads, which can hamper the provision of social and medical assistance.

Based on the situation, this DREF operation is focusing on providing support and assistance to the most affected population in six administrative centres (Jamoats) of Murgab District. Food assistance is urgently needed for the identified 500 households (3,000 people spread in six administrative centres).

This operation is expected to be implemented over 4 months, and will therefore be completed by 30th June 2012. A Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation, i.e. by 30th September 2012.