Tajikistan:Government of Switzerland provides assistance to the victims of floods in Hamadoni District of Khatlon Oblast

Extensive snow melt in GBAO and heavy rains over the past two months have raised the water level in the all rivers of Tajikistan, and resulted in numerous floods and mudflows. Infrastructure and livelihoods in Hamadoni and Farkhor Districts in South-Tajikistan (Khatlon Oblast) are severely affected.
Riverbank protection works as immediate response to prevent further flooding are in progress; however they are hampered due to the lack of fuel. Overall the number of evacuated population is over 11,000 people. MoES reports that total damage estimates from floods in Hamadoni District of Khatlon Oblast up till 15 July 2005 amount to 8.4 million TJS. The Government of Tajikistan has appealed to the international community for humanitarian and financial assistance.

Following the appeal, Switzerland has provided 4'000 litres of diesel and spare parts for machinery through the UN Disaster Risk Management Project (UNDRMP). The assistance is provided for the total amount of 3'000 US Dollars within the Small Actions Grant Line of the Swiss Disaster Reduction Programme of SDC.

For additional information on the assistance provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) please contact dushanbe@sdc.net. For updates on recent disasters in Tajikistan visit www.untj.org.