EARTHQUAKESThe territory of Tajikistan located in a zone of tectonic interaction of
three large mountain structures - Pamirs, Hindukush and Southern Tien Shan.
More than 5000 of deep and shallow earthquakes a various nature and force
registered annually here. Some of strong destructive earthquakes are known
in Tajikistan.
21.10 and 27.10 of 1907 - Karategin earthquake, M=7.4 and 7.0 points by
Richter's scale, took lives of 12,000 people.
Khait earthquake in 1949, 10 points by 12 point Richter's scale in the
epicenter and M=7.5 points east from Garm. 28,000 casualties. 1985 - Kairakum
earthquake, M=6.3 points, 8-9 points in the epicenter.
1984 - Djirgital earthquake, M=5.7, 7-8 points in the epicenter.
January 1989 - Hissar earthquake. 389 casualties in villages Okkuli Bolo,
Okkuli Poen and Sharora.
April 1969 - Mountain torrent flooded part of Yaldamich village and took
lives of 68 people.
1969 - Baljuvon rock fall took lives of 480 people.
Sarez earthquake in 1911. Rock fall wiped off village Usoi having created
a lake, which contains 17,5 cubic kilometers of water at present and is
a hazard for 5 millions of people of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
and Afghanistan.
|
|
Stormy winds and torrential rains have affected a number of districts of Suighd Oblast, 220 km north of the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Friday, 6 June 2003. Penjikent town and surrounding districts suffered the most extensive damage. 3 died, 3 missing, 1,500 affected 60 houses destroyed, 59 houses damaged, 4 bridges destroyed.
According to local geologists, tectonic activity in the area is very high. Surface soil on three hilly areas in the Aini district have started sliding destroying all the infrastructure including at least 188 houses. Experts say deforestation often leads to unstable topsoil in mountain regions, leading to landslides. Last month, rains and landslides in the area killed five people. The activity also destroyed dozens of houses and flooded roads connecting the villages with the main highway. Power transmission and communications lines were also cut, isolating the impoverished population.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has provided all of them with food aid.
According to Handley, the field coordination on the ground between the
local authorities of the ministry of emergencies, the Federation and the
WFP is functioning smoothly. The immediate needs of the affected families
included household goods, clothing, shelter and food. A one-off distribution
of household goods and clothing to the 12 families forced to rapidly evacuate
their homes was required. Shelter needs are currently being met, but tents
may be needed when the school reopens. WFP was providing a one-off distribution
of food to the 12 most affected families.
Government officials are in the process of assessing the situation. Their
initial plans include relocating some villagers to an area south of Kurgan-Tube
in the same province. Those staying back in the area will be helped to
rebuild their houses. The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan is reportedly
distributing mattresses, pillows and used clothing to the 12 affected families.
Over the past decade, some 2,500 people have been killed and 5.5 million
(10 percent of the total population) affected by landslides, earthquakes
and floods in the Central Asian nations of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
"Tajikistan as it is the most vulnerable country in the region,"
"The overall objective is to strengthen the capacity of local communities to foresee and respond to disasters and to protect them from likely disasters through small-scale infrastructure works," she explained.
This will be achieved through disaster preparedness training, radio communication
systems and public awareness campaigns. People living in areas prone to
avalanches, mudslides and flooding will be protected through the construction
of barriers, reinforcement of mountainsides and the strengthening of river
beds and banks.
The projects will be carried out by 10 international organisations in conjunction
with leading local and national disaster response actors such as the Tajik
Red Crescent Society and the government's Ministry of Emergencies Situations.
ECHO allocates some eight million euros [$8.6 million] worldwide every
year through its Disaster Preparedness programme (DIPECHO) for projects
to reduce the impact of natural disasters. Since 1998, the humanitarian
office has provided nearly one million euros for adhoc disaster preparedness
in Central Asia.
This latest decision signals an extension of ECHO's aid contribution to
Central Asia. The funding is in addition to a ten million Euros ($10.6
million).
The increased was welcomed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs [OCHA] in Dushanbe. "Tajikistan is one of the most natural
disaster prone countries in the world and 2002 ECHO with the Ministry of
Emergencies logged over 70 incidents of natural disasters," humanitarian
affairs officer for OCHA.
In order to be able to better co-ordinate assessment and response to these incidents, OCHA initiated in mid 2001 an interagency forum known as REACT (Rapid Emergency Assessment and Co-ordination Team). It comprises of representatives from UN agencies, NGOs, donors and the Ministry of Emergencies Situations who are able to mobilize in times of crisis.
Rahmonov Suhrobsho Abdurahmonovich
Chief Computer Oparating Specialist (Data base)
Ministry of Emergency Situation and Civil Defense
Lohuti str 26, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734025
Tel: (992-372) 232549 Fax: (992-372) 213129
United Nations Coordination Unit in the Republic of Tajikistan
39 Aini Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734024
Tel: (992 372) 217-827, 210-680
Fax: (992 372) 510-021
Website: www.untj.org