Floods in Tajikistan

In May 2009, the Republic of Tajikistan requested international assistance following the worst flooding in 50 years. The Community Mechanism for Civil Protection was activated on 20 May. Severe floods and mudslides had affected the country. Disaster struck in over 40 settlements and locations. 10.000 citizens were displaced and some 30 casualties were reported. In the affected regions, 2.000 houses were destroyed and 160 kilometres of roads including 40 bridges were washed out. The worst affected area was the Khurason district of Khatlon region, where a massive mudslide occurred on 21 April.

Response of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism

In response to the Tajik request for assistance, Austria and Slovakia provided assistance in the form of tents, medical supplies and electrical power generators through the Community Civil Protection Mechanism. The Commission co-financed the transport of the items. The assistance was flown to Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital, and from there delivered to the affected regions. Alongside the assistance, the Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) sent a coordination team on site. Civil protection experts from Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Sweden as well as a MIC liaison officer worked with the Tajik authorities and international partners to organise the distribution of the relief items.