Counterpart Delivers Assistance to Tajiks Affected by Flooding

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Counterpart International, through the U.S. Department of State’s Operation Provide Hope Program, delivered $277,614 worth of non-food items to the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) and Central District Hospital of Kulyab City on May 12, 2010. The new beds, bedding and household items were distributed to the victims of recent floods in the Kulyab area. Medical supplies and outfitting have been offered to the hospital to treat the injured.

“Counterpart International was able to respond quickly and efficiently to these devastating floods. Some families have lost nearly everything they own and stand in need of even the most basic household and personal goods. The relief supplies have proved extremely beneficial to displaced Tajiks in this difficult time,” noted Rang Hee Kim, the Senior Director of Counterpart’s Community and Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP).

Heavy rains provoked floods in the early morning hours of May 7th in Kulyab and the surrounding districts of Kulyab, Vose, Muminabad, Temurmalik and Shurabad. Kulyab City and District are considered the most affected by the flooding. At this point, CoES reports a total of 13 fatalities, 32 persons missing, 85 persons hospitalized, 270 houses completely destroyed and 202 houses damaged in Kulyab City alone. Kulyab City provided housing to disaster survivors in several collective centers: 317 families (1,679 persons) are located in a tent camp at the Kulyab sport stadium, 41 families (316 persons) at the State Pedagogical College dormitories, and 33 families (176 persons) at School #4.

Three heavy trucks loaded with U.S. humanitarian assistance arrived in Kulayb City one day following requests for assistance submitted by the CoES and REACT Secretariat. The swift response was possible through careful coordination, hard work, and the U.S. State Department’s initiative to pre-stage disaster package containers in Tajikistan. This effective work attests to the coordination between U.S. Embassy to Tajikistan, Counterpart and the CoES of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Affected people from Kulyab City and the surrounding district received cots, beds, mattresses, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, sleeping bags, shower shoes, basins and flashlights valued at $214,000. Central District Hospital received medical supplies and outfitting valued at more than $63,000. These items were provided as humanitarian assistance by the American people to the people of Tajikistan.

CHAP has operated in Tajikistan since 1998. Serving more than 1,023 organizations, CHAP has imported and distributed over $52 million worth of humanitarian assistance to nearly 2.7 million needy people in Tajikistan.

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