DUSHANBE, May 28, Asia-Plus – The Government of Tajikistan (GoT) and the WFP Country Office (CO) Tajikistan have signed a protocol of understanding on a long-term support and rehabilitation operation.
The document was inked by Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and the WFP Country Director Zlatan Milisic on May 27.
Speaking to reporters after the document-signing ceremony, Mr. Milisic said that the document is necessary for providing transparency of “activity of WFP jointly with government its bodies in the provinces.”
According to him, WFP annually provides assistance to some 590,000 people in Tajikistan, but because of cold weather this number may increase. “Our budget for 2008 has been determined at $26 million, while over the first four months of the year, we have already spent $9 million for providing food assistance,” Mr. Milisic said.
“However, it does not mean that the situation is critical,” noted he. “It is necessary to do everything in order to stop this process.”
In Tajikistan, WFP operations aim to improve household food security, promote investment in human capital and preserve/ rehabilitate assets through recovery activities, including food for education, food for work, support to tuberculosis patients, and support to supplementary and therapeutic feeding programs. WFP also continues to provide relief food aid to the victims of natural disasters.
According to information posted on the WFP website, WFP”s new two-year operation started on July 1 2007 and will assist 591,000 people with 37,700 metric tons of food at an overall cost of US$23 million.
The new Tajikistan operation includes a handover strategy that will focus on a transitioning of key activities from WFP to the Government. The strategy is currently being discussed between WFP and the relevant Government ministries. Over the past two years, the Tajikistan operation has suffered from declining resources and a number of traditional, emerging and potential donors have been approached for further support. Additional contributions are required to ensure that the project funds are sufficient to meet needs throughout 2008.
