DUSHANBE, May 31, Asia-Plus — In reply to the severe winter crises that hit Tajikistan in 2007/8 and its impact on the country in the middle to longer term, the Swiss Government is providing nearly $1 million worth of assistance, press release issued by the Dushanbe Office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) on may 30 said.
The Swiss Government recognizes the severe effects brought about by the recent cold wave and energy crises on many sectors in Tajikistan, including agriculture, health and nutrition. In order to support the Tajik population to tackle this situation and at the same time to help lower the effects of possible future energy crises, the Swiss Government, through the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan is providing the following assistance: $320”000 to an FAO-implemented project on “emergency supply of agricultural inputs, livestock feed, veterinary services and training to most vulnerable and weather
affected households in Khatlon’s Muminobod district; $107”000 to two OXFAM-implemented projects supporting the improvement of water and health services in the Kulob district; $67”545 to UN DP for projects aiming at developing early warning systems for floods and landslides and at supporting the UN Emergency Reserve for floods and landslides response; and another $321”000 are to be invested in a WHO project aiming at minimizing the health impact of the cold wave through strengthened coordination and mainstreaming disaster preparedness in health facilities.
In addition, the Swiss Government is providing six mobile hospitals worth around 700”000 USD to the Ministry of Health to be mounted in regional centers of Tajikistan as part of disaster preparedness.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is planning a contribution of USD 0.5 million for the rehabilitation of priority areas in the country”s energy sector, together with other donors.
Apart from the support to the above projects as a direct answer to the winter crises and its consequences, the Swiss Government aims at improving disaster preparedness in Tajikistan also through its ordinary program. Activities include the disaster reduction program of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid as well as projects supporting drinking water supply systems. Newly launched initiatives on land reform are supposed to bring positive changes to the agricultural sector and ultimately to the nutrition situation in the middle- to long-term.
