DUSHANBE, June 2, 2016, Asia-Plus — The European Commission is providing about 60 000 EUR in humanitarian funding to assist most-affected populations in response to the floods and mudflows which hit nine districts of Tajikistan on May 9-12, according to the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan.
Heavy rains throughout Tajikistan triggered floods and mudslides killing five persons, affecting over 1500 households and leaving them without shelter and food, damaging arable land critical infrastructure, and killing livestock.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) is contributing to the disaster relief emergency fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, following a funding appeal by the organization for immediate assistance. This was based on a thorough needs assessment, which was conducted in coordination with REACT (Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team) partners, government counterparts responsible for emergency response and international organizations based in Tajikistan.
The funds, channeled through the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan will ensure the provision of non-food items, including mattresses, bed linen, blankets and pillows as well as hygiene kits to 320 of the most-affected families.
Tajikistan is a mountainous country extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and floods, with landslides and mudflows 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. For more information, please visit ECHO”s website.
The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation”s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.
