Attachments
Key Highlights
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The 9 May 2016 mudflows that killed at least four people in Sughd Province continued throughout 11-12 May and affected an additional eight districts countrywide.
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The most affected districts as a result of mudflows over the period of 9-12 May remain Panjekent (Sughd Province) and Rudaki (Direct Ruled Districts).
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Initial estimates indicate at least 1,200 households are affected in Rudaki District alone, in addition to the 147 households already affected in Panjekent by the 9 May mudflow.
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The total number of people affected or displaced by the floods/mudflow is yet to be confirmed as the Government-led assessment continues.
Situation Analysis
The situation in Panjekent District remains critical. Continued intense rains over the night of 11- 12 May 2016 resulted in flooding and mudflows in several villages of Hisor, Fayzobod, Rasht and Rudaki districts (Direct Ruled Districts), Aini, Shahriston districts (Sughd), Darvoz District (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast), and Norak District (Khatlon). The Dushanbe – Khorog Highway has also been closed due to flooding/mudflow at several junctures. As of 12 May, the Committee of Emergency Situations (CoES) reported that the most affected districts over the period of 9-12 May are several jamoats of Panjekent and Rudaki’s Zaynabobod Jamoat.
Local authorities and representatives of the Committee of Emergency Situations have evacuated vulnerable people, including children and women to safer places. As of 12 May, no human loss or injuries are reported in Zaynabobod Jamoat of Rudaki District. The displaced people have settled in neighboring houses or with their relatives within the same Jamoat. The exact number of displaced or affected by both Panjekent and Rudaki floods/mudflows is yet to be identified. As per initial information received from local authorities, floods and mudflows since 9 May affected more than 1,200 households countrywide (mainly in Panjekent and Rudaki districts).
The disaster caused significant damage to houses, arable land, bridges and local infrastructure. Tens to hundreds of livestock have been killed. The disasters also damaged a significant number of household belongings, including stored food within the houses.
The level of water in Rudaki’s Elok River, which triggered the 12 May flooding/mudflow remains high (up to two meters). There is an increased concern of the repeat of flooding/mudflow due to forecasted unstable weather. The Government plans to establish a tent camp for displaced in Zaynabobod Jamoat of Rudaki District. However, in consultations with local authorities and affected population, an agreement was reached to postpone establishment of such tent camp as the displaced people prefer to reside with their relatives or in neighboring houses.
The Tajik hydro meteorological services forecasts a continuation of the unstable weather countrywide until 16 May, alerting national and local governments to take immediate risk mitigation measures.
Humanitarian needs
As of 12 May, CoES briefed REACT that mattresses, bed linens, pillows, clothes, hot food, and hygiene kits are priority needs for the affected population both in Panjekent and Rudaki districts. Furthermore,
CoES stressed for an urgent need for a diesel fuel for cleaning of debris that filled most rivers, flood diversion canals, community roads and households.
REACT partners met for second coordination meeting on 12 May to discuss potential involvement of REACT partners on needs assessment and humanitarian response in support of Government of Tajikistan. The United Nations stressed availability of Emergency Reserve Warehouse in Dushanbe, which can be immediately released to meet urgent needs in Non-Food Items and replaced with later.
Humanitarian Response
CoES representatives, including rescue units, led by the Deputy Chairman, local authorities and residents are cleaning debris from affected areas.
Save the Children provided 30 sets of non-food items and water containers to the most affected families in Panjekent District in support of Government of Tajikistan. In addition, the Government of Sughd Province provided wheat flour and vegetable oil to all the affected households in Panjekent District. The Tajikistan Red Crescent Society also made a commitment to provide non-food Items to meet the most urgent needs.
REACT partners located in Sughd Province (GIZ, OXFAM, Red Crescent Society, World Food Programme and UNDP) joined Government-led assessment in Panjekent District on 11 and 12 May to support identify needs of the most vulnerable.
REACT agreed on the 12 May coordination meeting to form an inter-agency assessment mission and deploy to Rudaki District on 13 May to complement Government’s assessment process to identify critical humanitarian needs and potential damage caused by the disaster.
The next Flash Update will be issued as soon as more information is available.
For more information, contact:
OCHA ROCCA at: ranoev@un.org and UNDP at: react.dushanbe@undp.org for REACT Secretariat.
Committee of Emergency Situations: Col. Jamshed Kamolov, Department for Protection of Population and Territories, Tel: (+992 37) 221-8742.