Tajikistan: Cold Wave OCHA Situation Report No. 3

This report is based on information provided by the Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT), the Committee of Emergency Situations and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan.

SITUATION

1. Abnormally cold weather conditions in Tajikistan, continue to prevail with heavy snow fall and temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celcius.

2. Complicating the situation is a decline in the water levels in the reservoir of the hydro-electric Nurek Power Plant. It is estimated that in a few days time the water levels in the dam will be insufficient to support the power plant's current production levels, resulting in a further decline of electricity by some 39%.

3. The economic and social shocks as a result of the current cold weather conditions and energy crisis have worsened an already precarious food security situation, especially in rural areas. Two consecutive poor agricultural harvests combined with doubling food prices and increased spending on heating due to the cold have left rural populations with few remaining coping strategies.

4. The crisis developing in Tajikistan cannot be attributed to one single cause, but is rather the effect of a number of compounding shocks that combined have left the population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The slow onset nature of the crisis is being accelerated by the imminent plunge in electricity supply.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

5. Rapid assessments carried out over the past 10 days have confirmed a sharp decline in the humanitarian situation.

6. Rapid impact assessments by REACT as well as information from the Ministry of Health indicate the following impact of the crisis:

- Reduction in water quality and availability due to irregular pumping caused by limited power supply;

- An already poor population overcharged by increased expenditures on heating;

- Increased mortality, due to poor drinking water quality as well as a lack of heat;

- Increased difficulty in delivering basic health care, with many hospitals and health centres closing or restricting operating hours; some hospitals discharging patients due to unheated wards;

- Difficulty in assuring adequate level of sanitation;

- Increased difficulty in sustaining minimum levels of support in mass-care facilities such as orphanages;

- Severe disruption of the education sector;

- Difficulty in purchasing food due to a decline in disposable income and a sharp increase of prices;

7. The humanitarian needs arising from this compound situation are:

- Electricity, fuel and heating devices for critical social infrastructure such as hospitals, orphanages and schools;

- Drinking water supply and hygiene for urban populations affected by the energy crisis;

- Provision of life saving health services;

- Prevention of acute respiratory infections, frost bite and other health complications related to the cold conditions;

- NFIs, including warm clothing, blankets and isolation material, to improve heat retention inside the houses;

- Food assistance;

- Support to agricultural production and livestock;

- Clearing of roads to allow humanitarian access to cut-off villages.

8. Based on these findings and upon request of the government, the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team in Tajikistan together with international organizations within the framework of REACT, decided to appeal for additional assistance through the flash appeal mechanism. The appeal is expected to be released on Saturday 16 February and includes emergency projects in the areas of health, water, sanitation and hygiene, non-food items and shelter, food security, education and emergency energy supply.

(Extract)

For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details:

Tel: + 41-22-917 12 34
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only:
Tel. + 41 22 917 2010

UN Office in Tajikistan
Mr. Michael Jones
Resident Coordinator
Tel: + 992 47 441 0680

OCHA Office in Almaty:
Ms. Gabriella Waaijman
E-mail: waaijman@un.org
Tel: + 7 727 2528 643
+ 7 777 7809 071

Mr. Ali Buzurukov
E-mail: buzurukov@un.org
Tel: + 7 727 2528 643
(English and Russian speaking)
+ 7 777 7809 073

Desk Officers/Focal Points:

Ms. Séverine Rey
E-mail: rey@un.org (New York)
Tel. + 1 917 367 5336
Fax: + 1 212 963 3630

Ms. AoibheannO'Keeffe
E-mail: okeeffe@un.org (Geneva)
Tel. + 41 22 917 4329

Press Contact:

(Geneva)
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
E-mail: byrs@un.org
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653
Fax: + 41 22 917 0020

(New York)
Ms. Christina Bennett
E-mail: bennett1@un.org
Tel: + 1 917 367 8059
Fax: + 1 212 963 1312