Attachments
A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Continuous heavy rains resulted in mudflows between 14 and 16 May 2020 in Khatlon Province, Asadullo, 18th Hizb (former Partsyezd) and Pakhtaobod villages of Khuroson district, Ergash village in Kushoniyon district, Galaba Street of Vahdat town and Surkhdara village in Fayzobod district. In total, 7 mid-scale mudflows and floods have occurred throughout Tajikistan.
There were 338 households (1,690 people) heavily affected in Khatlon province (Khuroson district) and in Regions of Republican Subordination (RRS) Vahdat town and Fayzobod district another 11 households. At least 1 person was killed and another 1 person is missing as a result of natural disasters. Around 305 households were evacuated to neighbouring villages into safe places, i.e. schools, mosques and relatives’ houses. The Government commenced relief operations in some affected districts and calls for assistance from in-country humanitarian partners Reportedly, out of those destroyed houses, 11 have been dismantled by the owners before the assessment was conducted by the relevant services. The Local Disaster Management Commission has invited additional experts from relevant agencies/services, for detailed assessment of the damaged buildings. While Khuroson district authorities have announced that land plots in safe locations will be allocated, the decision on eligible households will be guided by results of the assessment.
Currently, 31 households (196 people) residents of destroyed houses are placed in the tent-camp erected nearby the local mosque, in order to avoid overcrowding and follow COVID-19 protection measures. Residents of the tent-camp consume drinking water and use sanitation facilities of the mosque. While the tent-camp area is illuminated by projectors, individual tents are not supplied with electricity or cooking facilities due to safety concerns. Meals for the residents are prepared and served at the mosque. A first-aid point is established in the tent-camp by local healthcare services, while safety and security of the tent-camp is ensured by local police guarding the area around the clock.
According to the results of the preliminary assessment conducted by the National Emergency Response Commission in the affected areas, as of 18 May 2020, the total number of residential houses with structural damages caused by mudflows and floods stands at 538 households out of which 72 houses are heavily damaged and destroyed, and another 466 houses are mudded. The number of destroyed and heavily damaged houses may increase, once the detailed assessment has been completed. Mudflows and floods damaged and destroyed assets and stocks of the population (livestock, food, water supply systems, latrines, household items etc.), and damaged auxiliary premises and land plots of the residential houses, including crops. Furthermore, infrastructure, such as roads and bridges connecting the villages, riverbank protections, as well as agricultural lands have been destroyed, increasing the humanitarian needs of the population. The Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence under the Government of Tajikistan (CoES) calls to scale-up the delivery of assistance.
Regarding the COVID pandemic, as of 25 May, the total cumulative number of confirmed cases in Tajikistan is 2,929 cases and 46 deaths.1 Since April, the country experienced a rapidly growing outbreak, with 107% increase in cases and 139% increase in deaths in the last epi week (WHO, 25 May).
According to the latest available data for COVID-19 for Khatlon province by the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan, as of 21 May, there were 284 confirmed cases of COVID-19, from which 145 are male and 139 female. 36 cases were hospitalized or quarantined, and 19 patients were in severe condition. Within Khatlon province, Bokhtar region had reported 148 confirmed cases of COVID-19, from which 73 were male and 75 were female.