Responding to winter crisis in Tajikistan
The onset of severe winter conditions resulted in many communities across Tajikistan losing their electricity supply. FOCUS, with the support of the German Embassy in Tajikistan and in collaboration with the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence, provided relief to families in Qumsangir in the province of Khatlon, southern Tajikistan in early March 2008.
Stocks of heating materials and high nutrition food items were provided to more than one hundred families, many of whom are still in a process of rehabilitation since the devastating earthquakes of winter 2006. Almost a thousand homes were completely destroyed and 1,440 were partially damaged. A large number of these homes have not yet been reconstructed, consequently, many families are living in conditions of extreme cold with limited food.
This relief effort was coordinated in conjunction with a wider relief operation being implemented throughout Tajikistan, by other aid agencies to support communities affected by the winter crisis.
Meanwhile, a collaborative effort between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and FOCUS also enabled the provision of relief to over 40 Afghan families living in the suburbs of Dushanbe, Vahdat and Kurgan-teppa, who were affected by the severe winter and ongoing electricity shortages.
Hosting training at the Centre of Competence for Disaster Reduction in Dushanbe
With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Centre of Competence for Disaster Reduction, FOCUS organised a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in February 2008, Dushanbe. The workshop aimed to prepared individuals to conduct basic disaster awareness training in their own organisations. Participants included representatives of local NGOs, officials from the Tajik Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence. This initiative seeks to build on the previous accomplishments of the Central Asia Region Earthquake Safety Initiative (CARESI) Projects by improving the ability of individuals to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The CARESI Projects focus on reducing community vulnerability to earthquakes in the Central Asian region through community-based disaster preparedness and mitigation modules.
FOCUS continued specialist training for Tajikistani’s state geology department between 24 December 2007 and 9 January 2008.
http://www.akdn.org/news/focus/spring2008.htm
Focus Humanitarian Assistance is an international group of agencies established in Europe, North America and South Asia to complement the provision of emergency relief, principally in the developing world. It helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid and facilitates their transition to sustainable self-reliant, long-term development. Focus Humanitarian Assistance is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions, for people of all faiths and origins, in specific regions of the developing world. Underlying the establishment of FOCUS by the Ismaili Muslim community is a history of successful initiatives to assist people struck by natural and man-made disasters in South and Central Asia, and Africa.
Ismailimail 