DECLARATION OF DISASTER IN TAJIKISTAN FOR MUDSLIDES AND

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000620

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
BUDAPEST FOR USAID/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR
ALMATY FOR USAID/OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR
USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA RANDREW
USAID/W FOR ASIA/AA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OFDA
STATE FOR SCA
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
USUN FOR OFDA REPRESENTATIVE
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN
ROME FOR USAID/OHA HSPANOS
SECDEF FOR SOLIC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC FOR J3/J4/J5
CENTCOM FOR J3/J4/J5
NSC FOR CPRATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SOCI PHUM TI
SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF DISASTER IN TAJIKISTAN FOR MUDSLIDES AND
FLOODING


1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4.


2. THE CHIEF OF MISSION HAS DETERMINED THAT A SERIES OF
DISASTERS CAUSED BY CONTINUOUS THUNDERSTORMS THIS SPRING IS
BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND, IS OF
SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO WARRANT U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, AND
THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO
RESPOND. THE CHIEF OF MISSION IS THEREFORE EXERCISING THE
DISASTER ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY.


3. A SERIES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT MUCH
OF TAJIKISTAN ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
MARCH. THESE STORMS HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT FLOODS, FLASH
FLOODS, MUDFLOWS, AND LANDSLIDES. ACCORDING TO UNOCHA, AT LEAST
734 FAMILES ARE HOMELESS AND 14,000 HECTARES OF FARMLAND
SEVERELY DAMAGED. REPORTS INDICATE THAT 21 PEOPLE HAVE DIED
WHILE 15,000 PEOPLE IN MORE THAN 25 DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED.


4. POST REQUESTS THAT OFDA RELEASE US $50,000 USDOLS FOR
IMMEDIATE RELIEF EFFORTS. THE AMBASSADOR'S AUTHORITY OF 50,000
USDOLS WILL BE USED FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE NEEDS FOR THOSE
LIVING IN TENT COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS PROVIDING LATRINES, HYGIENE
KITS, COOKING SETS, AND OTHER NON-FOOD ITEMS. ALL FUNDS WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION SAVE THE CHILDREN,
WHICH MAINTAINS OFFICES AND ONGOING PROGRAMS IN THE AFFECTED
AREAS. SUPPLIES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH EXISTING
DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT
AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.



5. ADDITIONAL FUNDS MAY BE REQUIRED. BEGINNING THIS SUMMER AND
CONTINUING FOR UP TO ONE YEAR, $3.5 MILLION MAY BE REQUIRED FOR
RECONSTRUCTION OF SEVERELY DAMAGED HOMES AND SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.


6. OFFICIAL REQUEST AND/OR ACCEPTANCE OF U.S. ASSISTANCE HAS
BEEN MADE BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THE LOSS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
INFRASTURE, HOMES, AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES THAT WERE
DESTROYED IN THESE STORMS.


7. THE HOST COUNTRY AGENCY INVOLVED IN RELIEF OPERATIONS IS THE
STATE COMMITTEE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS
PROMISED TO PROVIDE DISASTER SAFE LAND FOR THE RECONSTURCITON OF
HOUSES.


8. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS, NGOS, AND THE
RAPID EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT AND COORDINATION TEAM, WHICH IS A
JOINT GOVERNMENT-INTERNATIONAL BODY, INDICATES THAT LIVING

CONDITIONS FOR THOSE IN TENT CAMPS ARE DETERIORITING DUE TO
HEAVY RAINS. MANY OTHERS ARE LIVING IN UNSTABLE CONDITIONS IN
SCHOOLS OR MOSQUES.


9. U.S. EMBASSY IN DUSHANBE REPORTS THAT NO U.S. CITIZENS HAVE
BEEN AFFECTED.


10. BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF DISASTER THE U.S. MISSION IS
REQUESTING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT: THAT THE USAID/OFDA ADVISOR
COME TO TAJIKISTAN TO ASSIST WITH THE FURTHER ASSESSMENT OF THE
DISASTER AND DESIGN OF THE RECOVERY AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES
REQUIRED.


11. THE U.S. MISSION IS ANTICIPATING REQUESTING PL-480 FOOD FOR
THE NEXT YEAR. APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION IN WHEAT, LENTILS, AND
OIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR
ENTIRE CROP FOR THE 2009 SEASON.
JACOBSON

UNCLASSIFIED