ID :
121914
Thu, 05/13/2010 - 21:14
Auther :

Tajikistan asks intl community for urgent aid over devastating floods

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13/5 Tass 244

DUSHANBE, May 13 (Itar-Tass) - The Tajik government called on European
Union countries and the entire international community for urgent
humanitarian aid in connection with aftermaths of devastating floods, the
Tajik Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday.
The address, signed by the country's premier Akil Akilov, says that
since the start of the year 40 people died in the republic "as a result of
an earthquake in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, floods in the
country's north and south and other natural calamities; 33 people are
missing, over 300 are wounded, and more than 5,000 apartment houses and
social establishments were destroyed.
"As many as 20 cities and districts -- a third of the republican
territory --are suffering from calamities. According to preliminary data,
the damage to the national economy already tops 600 million US dollars."
The Tajik premier emphasised that "the authorities take measures to
overcome aftermaths of the calamities, but their proportions are such that
our country will not cope with them without international aid".
Restoration work is now in progress in the southern Khatlonskaya
Region, the hardest-hit by floods as well as mud and stone streams. Units
of the republican committee for emergencies and local rescue services are
looking for the missing, reported by local residents, are engaged in
cleaning up debris and resettling victim families to tent camps.
One of such camps is put up in the city of Kulyab where mud and stone
streams rushed through the city centre, actually washing away an entire
street. On the first calamity days - May 7-8, servicemen of a regiment,
deployed here of the 201st Russian military base, participated in rescuing
people and received personal gratitude from the Tajik president. The
independent union of Tajik reporters "Media Alliance" announced a
collection of donations in the country for stricken population of the
republic.
Meanwhile, Tajik weathermen predict unsteady weather with showers and
hail till the end of May.
-0-bur/gor



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