Day: February 20, 2023

Avalanches in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO, claimed at least 18 lives as of the morning of February 18. The dead reportedly are known to include two children, three schoolchildren and nine students.

Recall, an avalanche in Khorog’s Nosir-Khusrav neighborhood claimed at least 13 lives on February 15. At least 36 buildings, including the premises of the local Afghan consulate, were damaged as well. The collapse of power lines left Khorog without electricity for around eight hours. At least nine people were pulled alive from the rubble. The rescue phase reportedly came to an end in Khorog on February 16, while the search operation was under way.

The Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan reports that an avalanche that occurred in Gozhak village of Gharibsho Shabozov jamoat in Shugnan district on February at 3:30 pm killed a 16-year0old girl

Her body was pulled from the snow and handed over to relatives, Ms. Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee, said.

Besides, two residents of GBAO’s Vanj district were killed by avalanches the February 16.

The bodies of two female students pf the Khorog State University from Ishkashim district were pulled from the snow in Khorog’s Nosir-Khusrav neighborhood February 17 and 18, bringing the total number of people killed by avalanches in the GBAO to 18.

The Emergencies Committee claims that the female student from Ishkashim district, whose body was found Saturday morning, was the last victim of the avalanche that came down Khorog’s Nosir-Khusrav neighborhood.

According to the Emergencies Committee spokeswoman, 44 avalanches came down in territories of Darvoz, Vanj, Rushan, Shugnan, Roshtqala and Ishkashim districts of the GBAO on February 16 alone.

Avalanche risk has led to the closure of roads from GBAO’s capital, Khorog, to Dushanbe and GBAO’s districts of Roshtqala, Ishkashim and Murgab. Work on clearing the roads of the snow is under way.

Umeda Yusufi says the Dushanbe-Khorog highway and the road connecting Khorog and Ishkashim district are still closed for traffic.

One more person was killed by an avalanche on February 15 in Varzob district, on a highway linking the capital, Dushanbe, to Tajikistan’s second city, Khujand.

The Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway has also been closed for traffic due to risk of further avalanches.

On February 16, 11 avalanches reportedly came down in some places of the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway and 14 avalanches occurred in territories of Nourobod, Sangvor, Lakhsh and Tojikobod districts in the Rasht Valley (eastern Tajikistan. Work is underway to eliminate the consequences of the disaster.

Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan’s territory, and avalanches and mudslides kill dozens of people every year.

The Emergencies Committee warns that warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in the country and advises people not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.

Source: Asia-Plus

Torrential rain and heavy snowfall on February 17 and 18 caused 24 avalanches, six landslides and five mudflows in the country, according to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.

An avalanche came down near the village of Zing in Darvoz district of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on the night of February 17, blocking the Dushanbe-Darvoz-Khorog highways on the 347th kilometer. The work on clearing the highway of the snow is under way. No inured was reported so far, according to the Emergencies Committee.

Besides, mudflows reportedly occurred near Umarak village in Darvoz district on the night of February 17, blocking the Dushanbe-Darvoz-Khorog highway on the 352nd kilometer. Noe injured was reported so far. The work on clearing the highway of the slurry is under way.

Torrential rain in the early morning hours of February 18 caused three avalanches in Shamsiddin-Shohin district of Khatlon province. No injured was reported so far.

One more landslide occurred in Uchkul area in Khatlon’s Vose district at 2:45 am of February 18. The work on clearing the Vose-Khovaling road of slurry is under way. No injured was reported so far.

Torrential rain on February 17 reportedly caused mudflows on the 196th kilometer of the Dushanbe-Vahdat-Rasht highway Mudflows at 9:05 pm the same day. No injured was reported so far. The road was partially cleared from the slurry and traffic has been restored.

The risk of further avalanches, landslides, rockfalls and mudflows reportedly remains high in the country. People are advised not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.

Source: Asia-Plus

Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda, heading a government delegation, arrived in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), on February 20, according to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.

Ms. Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee, says the delegation members include the Security Council Secretary Nasrullo Mahmoudzoda, the Emergencies Committee Chairman Rustam Nazarzoda and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir, who is Government’s Representative in GBAO’s capital, Khorog.

According to her, the delegation members have got acquainted with the progress of work to eliminate the avalanche consequences.

After getting acquainted with the progress of the work, the prime minister instructed relevant bodies and agencies to complete the construction of houses for those left homeless.

The delegation members reportedly also visited in a hospital people injured by the February 15 avalanche.

They also met with Khorog residents and handed over aid to all those who had been hit by the avalanche, Ms. Yusufi added.

Recall, avalanches in the GBAO claimed at least 18 lives as of the morning of February 18, including 15 in Khorog, one in Shugnan district and two in Vanj district. The dead reportedly are known to include two children, three schoolchildren and nine students.

According to the Emergencies Committee spokeswoman, 44 avalanches came down in territories of Darvoz, Vanj, Rushan, Shugnan, Roshtqala and Ishkashim districts of the GBAO on February 16 alone.

Avalanche risk has led to the closure of roads from GBAO’s capital, Khorog, to Dushanbe and GBAO’s districts of Roshtqala, Ishkashim and Murgab. Work on clearing the roads of the snow is under way.

Umeda Yusufi says the Dushanbe-Khorog highway and the road connecting Khorog and Ishkashim district are still closed for traffic.

Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan’s territory, and avalanches and mudslides kill dozens of people every year.

The Emergencies Committee warns that warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in the country and advises people not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.

Source: Asia-Plus

On February 17, the Netherlands and Tajikistan held a joint briefing in The Hague on preparations for the UN Conference on the Midterm Review of the Water Decade.

The briefing was opened by the Director General for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Kitty van der Heyden, and the Ambassador of Tajikistan to the Netherlands Erkinkhon Rahmatullozoda.

It was emphasized that this is the most important international event that will be chaired by the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, which will be of particular importance in the discussion various aspects of water-related issues at the global level, becoming an outstanding example of cooperation between upstream and downstream countries located in different geographical regions in solving the common problems of mankind.

The briefing was attended by ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, heads and employees of international organizations accredited in the Netherlands, representatives and experts of the water sector of European countries.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

On February 18, the President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad received the Ambassador of Tajikistan Zubaydullo Zubaydzoda.

Ambassador conveyed the message of condolences of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the President of the Syria due to the severe earthquake in this country.

In turn, al-Assad, on behalf of the Government and people of Syria, expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the President of Tajikistan for his sympathy and providing humanitarian aid in such difficult times.

Also, the parties exchanged views on the expansion and restrengthening of bilateral relations in various areas and other important regional and international issues.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

A working group has begun its activities to test multi-storey buildings for strength and seismic resistance in Tajikistan.

The order was signed by the Chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Construction on February 16, after the events of recent days in Turkiye and Syria.

Recently, the working group held its first meeting, which was focused on the first stage of the activities.

On February 8, at a press conference, it was noted that buildings of Dushanbe are resistant to earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 and 9.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Today, per instructions of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the governmental commission led by the Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda visited Khorug.

On this trip, Rasulzoda is accompanied by the heads of relevant ministries and departments, as well as other officials.

The government commission got acquainted with the process of eliminating the consequences of the natural disaster in Khorug, with the state of health of those who received bodily injuries, and also met with those affected by the natural disaster.

The purpose of this trip is rendering of the aid of the President of Tajikistan to those affected by the natural disaster, meet with them, familiarize themselves with the construction of important economic and social facilities in Khorug, and discuss other important issues of the economic and social development of the Badakhshan Mountainous Autonomous Region.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

On February 18, 2023, the President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad received the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan Zubaydullo Zubaydzoda.

During the meeting, the message of condolence of the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon was conveyed to the President of the Syrian Arab Republic due to the severe earthquake in this country.

In turn, Bashar al-Assad, on behalf of the Government and people of Syria, expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Founder of peace and national unity - Leader of the nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Honorable Emomali Rahmon for his sympathy and providing humanitarian aid in such difficult times.

At the same time, the sides exchanged views on the expansion and restrengthening of bilateral relations in various areas and other important regional and international issues.

Source: Ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan

On behalf of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the aid, consisting of winter clothes, shoes, food, cast iron stoves, and beds with bedding, was sent to families affected by the natural disaster of cities and districts of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

The aid will be provided to families affected by the natural disaster within a few days of February this year. The aid consists of 18 tons of food.

Also, 250 beds with bedding, a set of clothes, 50 cast-iron stoves and some electric heating equipment were sent to families affected by the disaster.

Support for families affected by natural disasters and elimination of the consequences of natural disasters are under the constant attention of the government.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan