DUSHANBE, July 23, Asia-Plus — A July 23 session of the government presided over by President Emomali Rahmon discussed issues related to mitigation of effects of disasters that hit the eastern and northern parts of Tajikistan on July 22, presidential press service said.
During the meeting, it was noted that flooding that hit the villages of Olma and Oshoba in the northern district of Asht on Sunday caused numerous casualties, completely destroyed 25 residential buildings and partially damaged more than 100 residential buildings. Besides, the disaster damaged three bridges, six kilometers of roads, 10 kilometers of water pipeline, four transformers 60 poles of the power-transmission lines. 25 vehicles were seriously damaged by the disaster.
It was noted that nine dead bodies have been found so far, but it cannot be ruled out that the death toll may rise.
A devastating earthquake that jolted the Rasht district early in the morning Sunday left three dead and three injured. More than 100 residential buildings were destroyed completely and more than 300 other houses were partially damaged by the tremor. The quake also damaged primary school, cultural facility, library, one mosque and administrative building of the local jamoat (community) in the district.
The head of state set specific tasks on expeditious mitigation of the disasters’ effects and rehabilitation of the damaged residential buildings and other facilities and providing the disaster-hit population with medicines and tents.
The president ordered to provide funds from the country’s public charity to provide extraordinary grants to the disaster-hit people and rehabilitate electricity and water supplies. The families that remained homeless will receive 500 somonis each and 100,000 somonis will be provided for rehabilitation of power-transmission lines and water pipelines in the Asht district.
Rahmon also ordered to send 30 tons of wheat flour, seven tons of sugar, five tons of vegetable oil, 100 tents and building materials, including 110 cubic meters of timber and 200 tons of cement, to the Rasht district.
The president also ordered to open a special banking account at AmonatBonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) for mitigation of effects of the tremor in Rasht tremor’s effects in the Rasht and enlist the services of the country’s Red Crescent Society and public charitable organizations in providing assistance to the disaster-hit population.
Today, government commissions led by Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov and Security Council Secretary Amirqul Azimov went to the sites of disasters to organize the rehabilitation work.
