The Emergencies Committee Committee under the Government of Tajikistan reports that as of today, 520 families from the city of Kulob, affected by the mudslide, have received assistance from the Government. Residents were reportedly provided with food, household appliances, blankets and pillows, clothing, shoes, and other necessary items. Authorities state that assistance will be provided to another 330 families in stages.
On May 16, Asia-Plus’s reporter met with several affected families.
On May 4, humanitarian aid was sent to those affected by the mudslide and flooding in Kulob on behalf of the country’s president, including 230 tons of flour, 10 tons of sugar, 10 tons of pasta, 6.5 tons of rice, and 6500 liters of vegetable oil, as well as beds, bedding, clothing, shoes, and more.
Yaqubjon Muloniyozov, a city resident whose father Mirzo Muloniyozov died from an electric shock on the night of May 1, told Asia-Plus that their family has received aid twice.
In addition, the Kulob authorities provided the Mirzo Muloniyozov family with building materials: 1150 cinder blocks, 3 tons 250 kg of cement, and a truckload of sand. According to the respondent, city administration representatives also promised to bring reinforcement and stone later.
Currently, Yaqubjon and his family are staying with neighbors at night and working with relatives to repair their house during the day.
The family’s main concern is to restore their home as soon as possible and return to their previous life. However, they say that repairing the house will require a lot of time and resources, and it will be difficult to manage without government assistance.
Umeda Alimova, a resident of Kulob’s Qurbon Zardak neighborhood, also affected by the flooding, told Asia-Plus that her family received food, an oven, kitchen utensils, blankets, pillows, and clothing.
The woman emphasized that due to the flooding, the house was flooded with water and mud, resulting in all household appliances — the refrigerator, washing machine, oven, and stove — breaking down. Additionally, a sheep died.
According to Umeda, authorities recorded all the damage caused, but she still does not know what the future holds for her family. She is currently also temporarily living with her parents while the house is being repaired.
Damage is still being assessed
The latest report from the Emergencies Committee states that by May 13, its staff cleared 560 meters of roads and 48 residential homes of mud and gravel. It also reports that 220 loads of sand and gravel were removed from the homes of affected residents.
Earlier, the First Deputy Chairman of the Emergencies Committee, Hotamsho Latifzoda, told Asia-Plus that by May 5, it was established that 328 residential homes were affected by the flooding.
According to him, inspections in the affected areas are ongoing, and the number of damaged homes is increasing.
The exact extent of the damage from the flooding in Kulob is still unknown. Earlier, authorities reported that 850 families in the city were affected by the mudslide.
As it had been reported earlier, a mudslide hit Kulob on the night of May 1, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to three others.
Dozens of homes and various structures in several neighborhoods were damaged, forcing residents to seek shelter with relatives and neighbors.
Read more about this tragedy in our report.
