Climate change is drastically altering social and environmental conditions in one of the world’s most vulnerable countries, Tajikistan. Abnormally high temperatures are resulting in higher water elevation levels in the Vakhsh River due to rapid melting of glaciers and snow. This has become a serious problem for nearly 2500 in Olimobod village in Khatlon province; approximately 50 hectares of arable land and other valuable community assets are being swamped following episodes of heavy rain, which becomes worse every year.
Last year, WFP began providing nearly 750 people in Olimobod village with a monthly assistance of essential household food staples in return for work constructing a flood dike to secure the village and its community assets from seasonal flooding.
Floods in recent years have washed off rocks and stones, destroyed riversides and changed the direction of the watercourse towards Olimobod village. Consecutively, for the last five years, two schools, 12 households and kilometres of roads and irrigation canals have been flooded after heavy spring rains.
While the most vulnerable households benefited from this project directly receiving a nutritionally balanced food ration in return for the work, this dike will continue to work in favour of the entire community for years to come contributing to sustainable livelihoods while ensuring environmental protection.
The 115 meter-long and 15-metre thick dike was successfully completed this March thanks to the efforts of 135 men and women who worked on the project. Constructing the dike in the path of the flood watercourse has improved the resilience of the village’s residents to sustain future shocks. Above all, it allows students to have an uninterrupted school year as some of them were unable to attend because of the flood water engulfing their classrooms.
"There was an urgent need to construct a flood protection dike to stop the devastating impact of flooding which intensifies every year,” said the head of Olimobod village Bahorov Abdurahmon. “The project also involved cleaning canals and strengthening riverbanks, which are all measures that will really make a difference in the lives of families living here.”