Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALMATY756
2005-02-24 05:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DECLARES COLD AND SNOW DISASTER IN

Tags:  EAID KZ ECONOMIC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ALMATY 000756 

SIPDIS


AIDAC

WASHDC FOR DCHA/OFDA, EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KZ ECONOMIC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DECLARES COLD AND SNOW DISASTER IN
KAZAKHSTAN

UNCLAS ALMATY 000756

SIPDIS


AIDAC

WASHDC FOR DCHA/OFDA, EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KZ ECONOMIC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DECLARES COLD AND SNOW DISASTER IN
KAZAKHSTAN


1. Summary and Action Request: Following severe storms
that have led to a winter emergency in the south of
Kazakhstan, Ambassador Ordway has declared a cold and snow
disaster in three oblasts in Kazakhstan (Zhambyl Oblast,
Karagandy Oblast and Southern Kazakhstan Oblast.) The
Ambassador and Acting USAID Regional Mission Director
request that DCHA/OFDA immediately commit USD 25,000 to
provide clothing, electric heaters, and window seals to
mitigate the effects of extreme cold (minus 30 Celsius)
and snow (over 2 meters) in the affected areas. End
Summary


2. The Red Crescent Society reports that starting at the
beginning of this month, on or about 2 February 2005, and
continuing for approximately two weeks, the three oblasts
experienced extraordinary amounts of snowfall coupled with
unusually low temperatures. Due to excessive snow (in
some areas over two meters deep) and cold (up to minus 30
degrees Celsius),roofs of buildings and houses have
collapsed and central heating systems have failed, with
the result of exposing people in these areas to
hypothermia.


3. The Red Crescent Society estimates that over 700
buildings have been damaged in the three oblasts. More
than 650 settlements or towns have been cut off from
oblast centers as a result of the cold and snow. The Red
Crescent Society believes that over 60 percent of the
population in Zhambyl Oblast has been adversely affected
by the unusual weather patterns in February; 30 percent of
the population of Southern Kazakhstan Oblast has similarly
been affected; and over 70 percent of the town of
Shakhtinsk in Karagandy Oblast has suffered from the sub-
freezing cold and snow. Overall, the damage from this
disaster is estimated to be approximately USD 32.8 million
according to the Red Crescent Society.


4. Local governments and branches of the Red Crescent
Society have provided initial relief to those most
severely affected by the snow and cold. At this point,
the resources of these organizations are becoming
exhausted. Yet there remain vulnerable members of these
communities who still need assistance. These include the
elderly, large family households, families with children,
and the handicapped or physically disabled. At present,
local governments and aid agencies cannot sufficiently
address the immediate needs of these populations.


5. The governments of Zhambyl Oblast and the city of
Shakhtinsk have appealed to the Red Crescent Society for
assistance with this disaster. During the week of
February 14, the Ambassador Ordway made a trip to
Shymkent, in the Southern Kazakhstan Oblast, one of the
three areas affected by the extreme snow and cold. He saw
first-hand that the need is real and the emergency is a
severe one.


6. The most immediate need is to provide warmth in the
remaining structures where affected populations are
sheltering. The Embassy has been approached by the Red
Crescent Society with a proposal to provide warm clothes
and materials/equipment. The intended use of this disaster
request will be to purchase the following items in order
to provide immediate relief to an estimated 1,000 families
(or approximately 3,560 people):

1,000 sets of warm clothing
500 electric space heaters
1,000 units of window seals


7. The Embassy provided funding to the Red Crescent
Society for a similar snow emergency in 1999. Based on
this experience, we are confident this non-governmental
organization will efficiently render assistance to the
population in these three, hard-hit oblasts. The Mission
requests approval of this request in an expedited manner
so that our assistance can be provided on a timely basis
to those most in need.

Asquino


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