UN Tajikistan Earthquake Appeal Sep 2006

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This appeal is intended to cover the urgent remaining needs of the population affected by two earthquakes, which hit the southern district of Qumsangir in Tajikistan on the 29th of July 2006. A total of 1,083 houses have been fully damaged and more than 1,500 have been partially damaged. A total of 21,000 people had lived in these fully and partially affected houses.

The UN Country Team and the international community have been effective in meeting urgent, sector specific needs, especially in health, water and sanitation, and education. The response has been well coordinated through the Disaster Management Partnership REACT (Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team).

Even though the government only a few days following the earthquake initiated the reconstruction of houses, the work has progressed very slowly. As a result, there is a fear that half of the fully destroyed houses (approximately 500 houses) will not be rebuilt before the winter begins. If this were to occur, it would have serious humanitarian consequences, which is the reason for this appeal.

This appeal calls for 500 winter tents, as well as the material support for the reconstruction of 200 houses.

In addition to other infrastructure damaged, nine schools, in which more than 7,000 children study, were also affected by the earthquakes. In order to ensure continuity in children's education, this appeal covers part of the needs for school rehabilitation. Although the school year has already begun, the children in affected schools do not have access to a safe classroom-learning environment. There is an urgent need for full or partial rehabilitation of schools, provision of school furniture, textbooks, and essential school supplies in affected schools. Although the Government has committed to the reconstruction of 2 schools on their own, their resources are very limited to complete the rehabilitation of other 7 schools.

The total amount required is USD 1,000,000. The duration of implementation of these activities is planned for six months.

2. CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES

2.1 Context

Tajikistan is a highly disaster prone country, and is located in one of the world's most active seismic zones (Pamir-Alai, Hindukush) and has a mountainous landscape (93 per cent of the country). The risk of earthquake disasters is very high. But apart from earthquakes, Tajikistan is also exposed to almost daily mudslides, rockslides, floods and avalanches. On average, the country suffers nearly 500 disasters per year.

On the morning and afternoon of 29 July 2006, two earthquakes hit Tajikistan. At 5 a.m., 29 July 2006, an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale affected at least five settlements in Qumsangir District. Another quake (magnitude 5) struck at 15:57 the same day. The epicenter of the quake was 145 km south of the capital Dushanbe, and 55 km. east of Shartuuz.

According to assessments conducted by the international agencies and a governmental commission, 16,512 people were affected by the earthquakes. Three children - a 6-year-old boy and a girl and a 9-year-old girl - were buried under a collapsed wall. A total of 19 injuries, mainly people with collarbone and leg problems, were reported. Six of them were evacuated to hospitals of the nearby Kolhozabad district. The relatively low number of casualties can be explained by the fact that the stronger earthquake took place during the daytime.

Serious damage afflicted the region's already poor infrastructure - nine schools, four health centres and a central hospital, four transformers, 2 kilometres of electrical lines, a pumping station, a college building, a rest home, four shops and 20 administrative buildings were damaged.

Homeless families are seeking temporary shelter with family members/relatives or are living outside in makeshift shelters in the backyard of their homes. This has increased the need for emergency relief items such as tents for good quality temporary shelter. Priorities for health are related to the prevention and control outbreaks of water-borne diseases.

The Government of Tajikistan has requested assistance from the international community to address the severity of the emergency situation in Qumsangir District. Based on REACT, the disaster coordination partnership previously established under the leadership of OCHA, the Ministry of Emergencies has led the Government's response on the ground. The National Emergency Commission, established by the government on 30th July, has estimated damages at US$ 22mln.

Since 29th of July, international and national agencies have been undertaking various response measures, including the provision of food (60 MT of wheat flour, 4 MT of oil, salt etc.), temporary shelters (about 670 tents), basic construction materials (cement, roofing materials), medical items (basic emergency health kits etc.), non-food items (clothes), water and sanitation sets (water purifiers, chlorine, jerry-cans, soap etc.) accompanied with hygiene and sanitation training materials and trainings on safe house construction.

2.2 Humanitarian consequences

Shelter and NFI:

As a result of the earthquakes 1,083 houses were destroyed and 1,568 houses were damaged. The government has requested an additional 2,000 tents to cover the needs of the affected population.

Health and WES:

Health structures (medical points) have been totally destroyed in Zamini Nav and Village #8. The assessment conducted by the Ministry of Health and MERLIN on 31st July indicated a concern regarding access to clean water in all affected areas, which poses a high risk for outbreaks of intestinal infections.

Malaria, even though reportedly not significant but still prevalent in this area, is also a concern as people are sleeping outside without mosquito nets.

Sanitation conditions are reported to be poor and chlorine powder is required to clean places of mass defecation, schools and hospitals. According to the report, there is no need for drugs and medication at this time as current stock is sufficient.

Education:

The earthquake, which damaged five settlements in Qumsangir District in July 2006, seriously affected the life of children in the district. Nine schools where more than 7,000 children study were destroyed or damaged. Although the school year has already begun, the children in affected schools do not have access to a safe classroom-learning environment. There is an urgent need for full or partial rehabilitation of schools, provision of school furniture, textbooks, and essential school supplies in affected schools. Although the Government has committed to reconstructing 2 schools on their own, their resources are very limited to complete the rehabilitation of other 7 schools.

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