HIGHLIGHTS
The 7 December 2015 earthquake affected over 5,000 persons, displaced 654 people, including 354 children, led to 2 fatalities and at least 10 injured.
The main impacted area is the upper Bartang Valley Jamoats of Basid and Savnob, which is mountainous, remote and isolated. 66% (347) of all partially damaged and 88% (147) of all destroyed homes are within these two Jamoats. UNICEF is targeting affected households (HH) in these two locations as well as those displaced to Rushon.
UNICEF supported 667 displaced persons with immediate life-saving items, including 165 hygiene kits and 328 water storage containers, 114 household emergency assistance packages and 182 sets of bed linen and 256 blankets.
A second phase of emergency support to affected families in Basid and Savnob is being planned, targeting 335 HH with hygiene kits, 470 HH with emergency HH NFI’s, 386 HH with water storage, tarpaulin for 50 temporary latrines and 15 health points with water treatment products.
460 persons are currently displaced in 10 collective centres in Rushon, 9 of which are schools, which host 2,467 existing students. 59 of 158 available classrooms in Rushon are being occupied by Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who will stay in Rushon beyond spring, when reconstruction of homes can start. Of the 610 displaced persons, 114 school-aged children are residing in a boarding school.
UNICEF’s local implementing partner NGO Lojvar provided psychosocial support to 56 children in two service points – in Barushon and Savnob villages.
Nine (9) basic health kits were distributed to 10 villages in Savnob Jamoat with a population of 2,564 persons, and 2 kits to 5 villages in Basid with a population of 1,276 persons. An additional 5 health kits have been requested to support health posts in Rushon.
UNICEF distributed through its partners 220 sets of communication for development materials related to hygiene, health, nutrition, protection and education to collective centres and affected villages.
UNICEF WASH consultant conducted a 10-day field visit and assessment in affected areas in January, identified further needs and revised response and recovery plan.
1. Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
On 7th December, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit Tajikistan with its epicentre 357 km south- east of the capital Tajikistan (Dushanbe) and 22 km of the Sarez Lake. The earthquake caused significant damages in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), particularly to communities living in Bartang valley. The confirmed total number of casualties is 2 killed and 10 injured. At least 21 aftershocks have been recorded, some of which have resulted in further damage.
Assessments by UNICEF in collective centres and Savnob and Basid Jamoats indicate that 102 families consisting of 460 people are currently residing in collective centres in Rushon of which 293 are children; 230 school-aged children (107F/123M) and 63 children under 5. A further 26 families of 150 people (89F/61M) including 41 school-aged children (26F/15M) and 25 children (12F/13M) under 5 are living with host families in Rushon, Derushon, Derzud and Shujand.