Temperatures

During the past week, temperatures averaged near to slightly below normal across most of Central Asia. Temperatures are forecast to average 2 to 6 degrees C above normal during the second week of May. Minimum temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing except for the highest elevations of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Maximum temperatures are forecast to occasionally warm above 30 degrees C across southwest Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan during the next week.

Precipitation

The Global Overview collates information from a range of sources and displays it in a manner that allows for quick comparison of different humanitarian crises.

Highlights

• Donors give US$4.4 million in multilateral aid to the Caucasus and Central Asia.

• Countries in the Caucasus give $155,000 in aid also through multilateral channels.

• IFRC allocates DREF funding to respond to small-scale emergencies in Kazakhstan and Georgia.

• Tajikistan Consolidated winter assistance plan for earthquake-affected populations 2012 seriously underfunded.

Temperatures:

During the past week, temperatures averaged near to slightly below normal across most of Central Asia. Seasonal temperatures can be expected across most of the region during the first week of May. Minimum temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing except for the higher elevations of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Maximum temperatures are forecast to warm above 30 degrees C across southern Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan during the beginning of May.

Precipitation

KEY MESSAGES

Global Highlights

• The global cereal price index increased by 8.8% on a year-on-year basis in the January-March 2013 quarter.This increase is driven by increases in real prices of maize and wheat (+8% and +13%, respectively).

Description

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) was established in May 2000 and provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while fostering long-term socioeconomic development. The grants target poverty reduction initiatives with the direct participation of nongovernment organizations, community groups, and civil society.

During Earth Week, we’re exploring the connections between climate change and the environment we depend on to sustain us. We start in Kazakhstan, the breadbasket of Central Asia and Afghanistan.

“Ас атасы – нан” – Bread is the head of all foods, Kazakh Proverb

Wheat is the most widely consumed cereal and provides the majority of calories to households in Tajikistan while cooking oil provides the second most calories. Potatoes and rice are leading alternative staples. Dushanbe is the capital city which supplies the urban population and is the primary market for importers and for distribution to the entire country. Khujand is a major city in the north of the country with strong trade connections with other parts of the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan.