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 Cold wave in Tajikistan Situation Report No. 4Page 1
Situation Report No. 4 – Tajikistan – Cold Wave/Compound crisis (25 February 2008)
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.
 
Weather in Tajikistan remains instable: lastweek started with warmer temperatures whichreturned below zero and were accompanied by snowlater during the week. In some areas, such snowfallscombined with occasional above zero temperatureshave led to an increase of avalanches.2.
 
While the water inflow to Nurek Reservoirhas increased almost by 2.5 (80-100 m3/sec onFebruary 19
th
versus 36 m3/sec on January 28
th
), thereservoir is only 0.9 m above the run-of-the-rivermode, the stage where a significant drop in outputwould occur. At present, only two out of the nineturbines are operating in order to reduce the wateroutflow and maintain the water level in the reservoir.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
3.
 
Based on the different rapid needsassessments carried out by the REACT partners,priority projects were identified and outlined in theFlash Appeal document. Most important needs wereidentified in the following sectors: water andsanitation, shelter and NFIs, health, food, education,agriculture, economic recovery and infrastructure,coordination and support services.4.
 
A WFP/NGO assessment will be deployedover the next few days to assess logistical supportneeds.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
5.
 
In response to the request from thegovernment for international support, REACTpartners, comprising UN, NGOs and Red Crescent,launched an appeal for assistance on 18 February2008. The appeal seeks USD 25,192,839 to helpinternational partners (seven United Nations agenciesand five international NGOs) support theGovernment of Tajikistan in addressing the needs of two million people already affected by the compoundcrises, as well as to undertake preparedness measuresfor potential flooding in Rash Valley and KhatlonProvince during the spring melt.6.
 
On 21 February the Central EmergencyResponse Fund (CERF) approved interventions in the
 
HIGHLIGHTSOn 18 February, an appeal for USD 25,192,839 was launched by the humanitarian community inTajikistan to support the Government in addressing the needs of two million people already affected bythe compound crisis.The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) approved several grants for a total of USD 5.2 millioncovering five projects in emergency energy, health, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and foodsecurity sectors.The UN Resident Coordinator, in consultation with the REACT members, has decided to use the clusterapproach to further improve response coordination mechanisms and strengthen the existing sectoralgroups.
 
 Cold wave in Tajikistan Situation Report No. 4Page 2
appeal worth US $ 5.2 million. Projects receivingCERF funding include urgent support to electricalpower and heat generation in Dushanbe, criticalenergy supply for dedicated key priority healthfacilities, urgent increase in urban water supplies,prevention of acute respiratory infections (ARI) anddiarrhoeal diseases among under-five children andemergency assistance to families affected by the foodcrisis.7.
 
Further donations have thus far beenregistered on OCHA’s financial tracking service(http://ocha.unog.ch/fts2) from various donors toprojects inside the Flash Appeal. This includes:
•
 
UNFPA has made available US$ 102,000from un-earmarked funds to provideemergency assistance to maternityhospitals and reproductive healthfacilities. According to statistics from theMinistry of Health, maternal mortality inJanuary 2008 has increased by 2, 5 timescompared to January 2007;
•
 
Germany has made USD 22,189 availableto CARITAS for response to theemergency;
•
 
Swiss Development Cooperation hasmade available US$ 27,000 to improveaccess to water in Kulyab, which providespartial funding for the Oxfam project inthe flash appeal;
•
 
Estonia has made available USD 50,000 toUNICEF for assistance to children inneeds of special protection;
•
 
UNICEF has made available USD 99,000for winterisation of schools;8.
 
In addition, considerable support has beenmobilized through bilateral and other channels:
•
 
The United States of America has madeUS$ 2.4 million available bilaterally andfor NGOs to provide food rations, fuel,heaters, clothing, household supplies andhealth services;
•
 
Germany has made USD 96,154 availableto NGOs for the provision of varioushumanitarian goods;
•
 
The Iranian Red Crescent Society hasmade available goods worth US$ 38,776to the Tajikistan Red Crescent Society.The goods, comprising of blankets,kerosene heaters, nylon sheeting, driedbread, date, rice and clothes have arrivedvia plane in Tajikistan and are in theprocess of being distributed;
•
 
Following a visit of the President of Tajikistan to Iran, the Iranian Governmenthas committed itself to assist Tajikistan bysending two trains of fuel for the operationof power plants in Dushanbe. In addition,agreements were reached on thereconstruction of the Yavan power plantin the South and developmental assistancefor the construction of water plants, atunnel which will connect the northernand central parts of the country, factories,railway and electricity transfer lines.
•
 
A plane carrying 10,500 kg worth of relief goods such as blankets, carpets and foodarrived from Saudi Arabia on 17 February.This is reportedly the first of 8 planes thatSaudi Arabia will be sending as part of aUS$ 10 million grant from the Kingdom.
•
 
The Russian Federation has provided 16Generators and 168 heating devises whicharrived in Tajikistan on 19 February.
•
 
Turkmenistan has provided 500 tonnes of diesel fuel.
•
 
Kazakhstan has provided USD 1.5 millionworth of diesel, Low-Sulfur Residual FuelOil and wheat.
•
 
The World Bank is in the process of procuring 1,500 MT of Low-SulfurResidual Fuel Oil to support Barki Tajik power plant.9.
 
The UK Government announced in a pressrelease that it would support projects in the flashappeal worth USD 1 million.10.
 
The European Union announced in a pressrelease that it would support humanitarianinterventions worth Euro 750,000.
 
 Cold wave in Tajikistan Situation Report No. 4Page 3
COORDINATION
11.
 
The UN resident Coordinator, afterconsultation with the Chair of the REACT forum andREACT members, has suggested the use of thecluster approach in Tajikistan to further improve theresponse to the current disaster in Tajikistan. TheCluster Approach will bolster the pre-existingREACT Sector/Cluster groups and facilitate logistics,procurement, customs clearance and informationmanagement and reporting.12.
 
The pre-existing sectoral working groups anddesignated leads under REACT are as follows:
Cluster LeadagencyGovernment lead
EmergencyPreparednessUNDP COESCD/REACTHealth WHO MOHWater andsanitationUNICEF MOH, MOM&WSFoodSecurityWFP MOA&EEducation UNICEF MOEEmergencyshelter &NFIsIFRC COESCDLogistics WFP COESCD, MTCEnergy &EarlyRecoveryUNDP MOE&I/MOED&T13.
 
The IFRC regional office in Almaty,Kazakhstan has send additional personnel toTajikistan to help colleagues on the ground in theircoordination responsibilities as shelter/Non-FoodItems sector leads.14.
 
The REACT forum continues to meet on aregular basis to exchange information and ensuregeneral coordination.15.
 
Sectoral coordination meetings are also beingheld to ensure common planning and operationalcoordination.16.
 
More information on the relief operation andon contributions is available on http://www.untj.org/.This situation report, together with furtherinformation on other ongoing emergencies is alsoavailable on the OCHA Internet Website athttp://www.reliefweb.int.
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