Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT225
2008-02-12 13:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: SKEPTICAL AMU DARYA VALLEY
how-toVZCZCXRO5862 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #0225 0431318 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121318Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0272 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3383 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1201 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1068 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1637 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000225
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SKEPTICAL AMU DARYA VALLEY
RESIDENTS BRACING FOR FLOODS
Classified By: Charge Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4(B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000225
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SKEPTICAL AMU DARYA VALLEY
RESIDENTS BRACING FOR FLOODS
Classified By: Charge Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (C) Although the Government of Turkmenistan continues to
maintain that it is taking steps to prevent flooding along
the Amu Darya River, residents and officials in flood-prone
districts are not taking those assurances at face value,
according a local Embassy staff member whose sister works for
Turkmenistan's Red Crescent Society (please protect).
According to the sister, villagers all along the Amu Darya,
worried that the frozen waters in Tajikistan will lead to
massive flooding this year, are literally living out of
suitcases, believing that they will be given very little time
to move once the ice melts and the waters start rising.
(NOTE: The last time Turkmenistan experienced a winter as
cold as this -- in 1968 -- there reportedly was major
flooding, with whole districts under water. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Local officials, too, are beginning contingency
planning for flooding. The FSN's sister said several local
district heads have been going on their own initiative to the
Red Crescent, asking for assistance in the form of warm
clothing, bedding, and anything else that the Red Crescent
could provide to uprooted residents. The head of the Red
Crescent Society in Turkmenistan went to Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers Hydyr Saparliyev, who bears
responsibility for Red Crescent activities, and asked for
permission to offer relief. Saparliyev turned down the aid,
stating that the government will deal with any problems.
BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S EARS ARE TO THE GROUND
3. (C) Post separately learned that President
Berdimuhamedov's January 19 trip to Turkmenabat was a direct
result of the president learning of local leaders' concerns
about possible flooding. It was only after the president
traveled to the Amu Darya region that he put Deputy Minister
of Defense Colonel Atabayev in charge of emergency
preparedness. Colonel Atabayev is the individual who oversaw
the dynamiting of the ice in the Amu Darya in mid-January.
However, there reportedly have been no new indications that
the Ministry is preparing in any way for flooding.
4. (C) COMMENT: The government's assertions that it halted
any threat of flooding when it began blasting the ice in
mid-January are not based on scientific fact, since it is the
much higher-than-average snow in the upper reaches of the Amu
Darya, rather than just the build-up of ice, that will
probably most affect the river's level. It is notable,
however, that neither residents nor local officials are
putting much credence in the government's ability to cope.
Neither MOD's approach to flood prevention nor the
Turkmenistan government's unwillingness to accept private
assistance portend well for area residents when spring thaws
start. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE
USAID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SKEPTICAL AMU DARYA VALLEY
RESIDENTS BRACING FOR FLOODS
Classified By: Charge Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (C) Although the Government of Turkmenistan continues to
maintain that it is taking steps to prevent flooding along
the Amu Darya River, residents and officials in flood-prone
districts are not taking those assurances at face value,
according a local Embassy staff member whose sister works for
Turkmenistan's Red Crescent Society (please protect).
According to the sister, villagers all along the Amu Darya,
worried that the frozen waters in Tajikistan will lead to
massive flooding this year, are literally living out of
suitcases, believing that they will be given very little time
to move once the ice melts and the waters start rising.
(NOTE: The last time Turkmenistan experienced a winter as
cold as this -- in 1968 -- there reportedly was major
flooding, with whole districts under water. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Local officials, too, are beginning contingency
planning for flooding. The FSN's sister said several local
district heads have been going on their own initiative to the
Red Crescent, asking for assistance in the form of warm
clothing, bedding, and anything else that the Red Crescent
could provide to uprooted residents. The head of the Red
Crescent Society in Turkmenistan went to Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers Hydyr Saparliyev, who bears
responsibility for Red Crescent activities, and asked for
permission to offer relief. Saparliyev turned down the aid,
stating that the government will deal with any problems.
BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S EARS ARE TO THE GROUND
3. (C) Post separately learned that President
Berdimuhamedov's January 19 trip to Turkmenabat was a direct
result of the president learning of local leaders' concerns
about possible flooding. It was only after the president
traveled to the Amu Darya region that he put Deputy Minister
of Defense Colonel Atabayev in charge of emergency
preparedness. Colonel Atabayev is the individual who oversaw
the dynamiting of the ice in the Amu Darya in mid-January.
However, there reportedly have been no new indications that
the Ministry is preparing in any way for flooding.
4. (C) COMMENT: The government's assertions that it halted
any threat of flooding when it began blasting the ice in
mid-January are not based on scientific fact, since it is the
much higher-than-average snow in the upper reaches of the Amu
Darya, rather than just the build-up of ice, that will
probably most affect the river's level. It is notable,
however, that neither residents nor local officials are
putting much credence in the government's ability to cope.
Neither MOD's approach to flood prevention nor the
Turkmenistan government's unwillingness to accept private
assistance portend well for area residents when spring thaws
start. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND