VZCZCXRO5261
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1523 2211322
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091322Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8326
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1741
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1699
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1708
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1639
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1748
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1752
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1490
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1477
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1271
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1721
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 1029
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9662

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001523 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN'S EARTHQUAKE RELIEF STATUS REPORT 
 
REF: DUSHANBE 1465 
 
¶1.  More than a week after two earthquakes shook Tajikistan's 
Qumsangir District in Khatlon province on the southern border 
with Afghanistan July 29 (reftel), the Tajik government and 
donors continue to help displaced residents.  Under the 
leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Ghulomov, the Tajik 
government established the National Emergency Commission to 
coordinate donor assistance, assess damage, and plan for 
reconstruction.  Although the Tajik government has not yet 
officially declared the region a disaster area, President 
Rahmonov has made several calls to international organizations 
and wealthy Tajiks to provide assistance. 
 
¶2.  The damage to five settlements in the district is 
approximately $22 million, according to the latest data provided 
by the United Nations Disaster Risk Management Project.  The 
death toll has remained low at three people, but the earthquakes 
displaced more than 15,000 people, a higher number than 
estimated in the days immediately following the earthquake. 
Over 700 homes have been completely destroyed and over 1,200 
partially damaged, many of them mud-brick structures common to 
Tajikistan's impoverished southern region. 
 
¶3.  Although the central government, NGOs, and international 
missions acted quickly to provide assistance such as temporary 
shelter, food, medical aid, and clothing to victims, the 
government has called for additional assistance.  Health and 
disease prevention concerns authorities, as the earthquakes 
destroyed all health service structures according to the UN 
report.  Sanitation conditions are poor, access to clean water 
is rare and there is a prevalence of malaria in the region.  The 
government has requested soap, cleaning disinfectants, 
additional water containers, assistance in monitoring and 
preventing waterborne diseases, and help in surveillance and 
preventing malaria including distribution of mosquito nets.  The 
Ministry of Emergency Services reported the food supply 
requirements have not been met and also asked for additional 
kitchen supplies. 
 
¶4.  The government has provided 1,200 tons of cement for 
reconstruction of homes and promised co-financing to those 
involved in rebuilding projects.  An international NGO will 
assist in training people how to build homes according to safe 
building standards for an earthquake zone.  As a temporary 
solution, the government requested an additional 2000 tents for 
the homeless. 
 
¶5.  Through the NGO CHAP, the Embassy provided $24,000 worth of 
emergency relief assistance in the form of clothing, sleeping 
bags, water containers, and medical supplies immediately after 
the earthquakes occurred.  CHAP has verified that our relief 
supplies were properly transported and distributed to victims. 
Although the earthquakes are responsible for many gaps in 
services, the problems the people of southern Tajikistan face 
now reflect pre-existing conditions, including the country's 
impoverished status, lack of adequate health facilities and poor 
water supply system.  Post remains involved in coordination 
activities with the government and international community to 
ensure that assistance provided will meet the immediate short 
term need as well as longer term development goals. 
 
HUSHEK