DUSHANBE, June 30, 2015, Asia-Plus – The Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan notes that the European Commission (EC) is providing EUR 54,608 in humanitarian funding to assist affected populations in response to the floods and landslides which hit Khatlon province and Rasht valley in May this year.
The European Commission is reportedly contributing to the disaster relief emergency fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, following a funding appeal by the organization to provide assistance. This was based on a thorough needs assessment, which was conducted in coordination with government agencies responsible for emergency response.
The funds, channeled through the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, will ensure that most of the affected families receive food and items such as mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits and cooking sets.
Tajikistan is a mountainous country extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and floods, with landslides an almost annual occurrence. The European Commission, through its disaster preparedness program, DIPECHO, has been working in Tajikistan for over a decade to strengthen the disaster management capacities of hazard-prone communities.
The European Union together with its Member States is the world”s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. The European Commission through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) helps over 120 million victims of conflicts and disasters every year.
