A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
A 7.2 Magnitude earthquake occurred in Murghob district of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) at around 12.50 local time on 7 December 2015. At least 15 aftershocks of below 5 Magnitude have been recorded as of 8 December in Murghob district near the epicenter. Two people have been trapped under rock-falls and consequently killed according to reports from the Committee of Emergency Situations. Another 14 have sustained injuries with two considered as severely injured. As of 8 December, at least 237 houses have been fully damaged, and another 601 are partially damaged and unstable, 22 schools, including 4 medical points and 1 local hydro-power station among other social facilities are reported to have been destroyed and/or damaged in GBAO. In addition, other infrastructure, including roads, medical points and hydro-power stations and schools have been damaged.
The President of the country ordered the Prime Minister, State Commission, as well as provincial and district level authorities to take all necessary actions to address the immediate relief needs of the affected communities.
The Deputy Prime Minister called for a Government, UN, NGO, and donor meeting on 8 December to brief the humanitarian partners on the impact of the earthquake. Tajik Hydro meteorological agency issued forecast of approaching cold wave that could result in dropping of temperatures by up to minus 10-15 Degrees Celsius countrywide and consequent snowfalls. Severe weather conditions put additional impediments reaching to affected communities, while compounding the vulnerability of these communities.
The Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT) Secretariat is in close communication with Government, local authorities, Red Crescent and humanitarian partners operating in GornoBadakhshan to obtain information. Depending on confirmed information on the severity of damage and humanitarian needs, REACT is planning to call for an extra-ordinary meeting to take a decision for a quick joint Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment that could be deployed immediately.
On 8 December, the Committee of Emergency Situations, the Main Geology Department and the Institute of Geology, Seismic Engineering and Seismology held a meeting to agree on an aerial observation of the lake Sarez and Usoi dam stability amidst catastrophic scenario of rupture of Usoi dam and possible devastating flooding across the region.
On 10 December 2015, the Ministry of Economic and Trade (MEDT) presided over a meeting to inform relief partners on the damages caused to infrastructures, road conditions, and other sectoral information received from line ministries and field-level working group and needs. During the meeting that was attended by UN, non-governmental organizations and donors, Government officials also presented information on estimated number of affected population, population need of urgent assistance and location of public houses and school where displaced population are accommodated temporarily. In order to support the Government of Tajikistan in relief efforts for the GBAO earthquake affected population, OCHA and UNDP as part of REACT Secretariat have been tasked to collecting information on the available resources by partners. This would enable to coordinate joint and more effective response to avoid duplication and gaps.