Tajikistan - DHA: 15-21.Sep.97
Tajikistan - DHA: 15-21.Sep.97
UN-DHA
Tajikistan
Humanitarian Situation Report
15-21 September 1997
HIGHLIGHTS
- Commission for National Reconciliation held inaugural plenary session
on 15 September. Four sub-commissions (on military, political, refugee
and legal issues) were established and started work.
- Inter-ministerial delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister traveled to
Kulyab and Kurghan-Teppe to meet with district and regional hukomats and
international agencies to foster cooperation and coordination of
assistance activities.
- Repatriation continued over the week. About 1,000 refugees are
believed to remain in the northern Afghan town of Kunduz. Another 7,300
are still in Sakhi camp near Mazar-I-Sharif where fighting is ongoing.
UNHCR announced that zero funding against its August appeal threatens to
undermine smooth resettlement of the refugees and urges donor support.
- Ministry of Health convened meeting with all health organisations to
discuss new regulations regarding importation of medical supplies and
pharmaceutical drugs.
- Preparations for winter relief assistance programmes, including supply
of coal and clothes and supplementary food aid to vulnerable groups,
have now started.
OVERALL SITUATION
The commencement of work by the Commission for National Reconciliation
in Dushanbe and accelerated discussions about the demobilisation and
reintegration process for United Tajik Opposition fighters were the main
news of the week. A delegation of inter-ministerial representatives, led
by Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Eshmirzoev, had meetings with local
hukomat officials and representatives from international organisations
in Kuliab on 17 September and in Kurghan-Teppe in 19 September to
discuss international assistance programmes in those areas. All agreed
that closer collaboration and dialogue between government officials and
international agencies at both the central and local levels were
necessary in order to identify and address priority humanitarian and
development assistance needs. Also, agreed was the need for regular
regional coordination meetings.
FOOD AID AND LOGISTICS
The IFRC, reporting on its food programme to improve the living
conditions of 24,660 vulnerable elderly people in Dushanbe, other urbans
areas as well as some mountainous areas in the rayons of the republican
subordination, distributed rations to 4,238 beneficiaries during the
period 1 August to 19 September. Beneficiaries received 25kg of wheat
flour, 5 litres of vegetable oil, 4.8kg of dried fruit and 250g of
iodized salt per person.
Meanwhile IFRCs public canteen programme, mainly targeting 6,000 elderly
but also some street children in urban areas in west Tajikistan,
continued. IFRC now runs a total of 15 public canteens, 6 in Dushanbe, 3
in Khojand and the rest in Kofarnikhon, Leniniski, Kuliab,
Kurghan-Teppe, Gissar and Tursunzade.
HEALTH
The issue of importation of medical supplies, including humanitarian
supplies, was once again discussed at a meeting with health
organisations, called by the Ministry of Health. Considerable concern
was expressed by health organisations that the new regulations and
procedures, aimed at quality control, involve a restricted number of
accepted suppliers, numerous registration forms and unnecessary double
sampling which will delay the delivery of humanitarian drugs. The issue
has been discussed at intervals since March of this year but little
progress was achieved due to lack of documentation on the new rules. It
was agreed that the Ministry of Health, through the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, would circulate all relevant documents to agencies and the
matter would be further discussed at a later date.
WATER AND SANITATION
In connection with the epidemiological survey carried out in August in
Dushanbe by the CDC team, and efforts to control water wastage, the
Tajik Red Crescent Society (TRCS) reported that a plumber has been
recruited to assess the need for repairs and replacement of plumbing
fixtures and fittings in sample households and public areas in two
mahallas in each of the four rayons of Dushanbe.
OTHER RELIEF ASSISTANCE
The IFRC, through funding from the Norwegian Government-Red Cross,
reports that it has now commenced deliveries of coal and stoves, stove
parts and other insulation materials in Gorno Badakshan in a programme
targeting a total of 29 schools, 14 internats and 272 health facilities.
A total of 3,000 MTs of coal and stoves etc. will be delivered. The TRCS
is also assisting school children in four selected rayons of
Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) to produce or repair their own
shoes-boots for the winter. A local purchase of 2,000 new boots-shoes
will also be made to encourage the local shoemaking factory and to
distribute them to children not involved in the shoe-making project.
SMALL CREDIT SCHEMES
Mercy Corp International has announced that it welcomes the submission,
by individuals, charitable organisations or commercial firms, of credit
or grant project proposals which support private agriculture and
agri-business initiatives, projects which support or enhance the
educational system, improve health care or which promote democratic
processes. Credit will be considered as a loan to be repaid to a
non-profit non-commercial third party, for example a local charitable
organisation. More information is available at the MCI office.
REFUGEES
Repatriation numbers for week 38 are not yet available but will be
reported in next weeks issue.
OTHER ISSUES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Wednesday 8 October will be World Disaster Reduction Day. At an
international level, concerned organisations will be promoting awareness
about how to reduce the impact of natural disasters, with special
attention paid to disasters caused by too much or to little water. Given
that Tajikistan is a natural disaster prone country, a special bulletin
will be issued to focus on the threats, preparedness, prevention and
response capacities in the country. Organisations interested in
contributing to this special issue should contact Sarah Longford at DHA
as soon as possible.
- Deadline for contributions to the Information Bulletin is end of day
each Friday.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
United Nations Office - Dunshanbe
Mr. Paolo Lembo - Resident Coordinator
Ms. Sarah Longford
Tel.: (0073772) 23 05 86 - Fax: (0073772) 21 03 89
E-Mail: dhaattaj.freenet.kiev.ua
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Ms. Sylvia Ferazzi
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402 - Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr David Chikvaidze
Tel.: (1 212) 963.9665 - Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: chikvaidze@un.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856 - Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH - E-Mail: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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