DUSHANBE, December 16, 2011, Asia-Plus — Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have launched an appeal to Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber (lower house of Uzbek parliament) over resumption of trail traffic into the Tajik southern Khatlon province.
A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on December 16.
The appeal, which was one of major topics of the sitting, in particular, notes that two regions of Tajikistan – Khatlon and Gorno Badakhshan – have remained in blockade for nearly a month as Khatlon-bound freight cars have still been stuck in Uzbekistan.
“Autumn sowing campaign as well as construction of schools and hospitals in these regions have been delayed and the delay in delivery of humanitarian aid to the mentioned regions evokes serious concern.”
The blockade of the rail traffic into southern Tajikistan has also impeded the passage of nonmilitary cargo to Afghanistan for international forces, the appeal said, noting that foreign companies operating in Khatlon and Gorno Badakhshan are also bearing losses.
Tajik parliamentarians expressed confidence that their Uzbek colleagues will help resolve the problem of blockade of rail traffic into Tajik southern Khatlon province.
Speaking at the meeting, the Majlisi Namoyandagon speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov noted that according to the preliminary estimates, damage caused to Tajikistan’s economy by blockade of the rail traffic into Khatlon province has amounted to millions of somoni.
320 Khatlon-bound freight cars containing 24,000 tons of various goods are still being held up in Uzbekistan.
We will recall that the bridge on the train track between the Uzbek towns of Ghalaba and Amuzang was damaged overnight on November 16-17 that caused rail traffic between Termez in Uzbekistan and the Tajik city of Qurghon Teppa to be shut down.
Uzbekistan says there are still problems on the railway heading into Tajikistan after an explosion that damaged the tracks.
Tajik rail authorities said it is unknown when Uzbekistan will finish repairing the tracks.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on December 14 that the head of the UN”s World Food Program (WFP) office in Tajikistan says Uzbekistan”s decision to block rail traffic to Tajikistan threatens to create severe food shortages.
The WFP”s Alzira Ferreira told RFE/RL on December 13 that even food being sent to Tajikistan as humanitarian aid is not reaching its destination due to the Uzbek authorities” refusal to allow trains bound for Tajikistan to pass through Uzbekistan. Ferreira said there are 23 trains with food stocks organized by the WFP waiting to make the last part of their journey into Tajikistan.
The WFP regularly provides aid to some 500,000 people and 2,000 schools located mainly in Tajikistan”s southern Khatlon region.
Ferreira said food prices in Tajikistan are rising due to the shortages caused by the blockade of rail traffic and an increasing number of Tajiks are unable to afford basic goods.
