UNITED NATIONS APPEALS FOR $22 MILLION TO MEET URGENT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN TAJIKISTAN
Press Release
IHA/608
UNITED NATIONS APPEALS FOR $22 MILLION TO MEET URGENT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN TAJIKISTAN
19961114 NEW YORK, 14 November (Department of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The United Nations is appealing for $22 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Tajikistan. The United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Donor Alert on Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Tajikistan, launched today, was prepared following an inter-agency needs assessment mission to Tajikistan last month, led by the Department for Humanitarian Affairs. It covers the period from December 1996 through May 1997.The Donor Alert is based on proposals contributed by the Department, the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and German Agro Action, a non-governmental organization active in Tajikistan.
The Alert highlights the most pressing requirements for emergency food aid ($6.7 million), as well as support for agriculture ($2.17 million), health ($4 million), water and sanitation ($1.6 million), education ($4.2 million), shelter ($1.1 million), energy ($1 million), assistance to internally displaced persons ($389,000) and the establishment of a mine action centre ($734,000). In addition, some $246,000 is sought to set up a field coordination unit within the Department. Its aim is to enhance capacity for field coordination among humanitarian organizations, the Government and donors, ensure advocacy on humanitarian issues, and undertake effective reporting and management of information.
Last month's assessment mission, undertaken at the Secretary-General's instructions, found that the humanitarian situation in the country had worsened considerably, owing to the combined effect of continued fighting between the Government and the United Tajik Opposition, and an economic situation characterized as an ongoing, nearly chronic emergency. As a result, Tajikistan is faced today with widespread humanitarian need, including several areas of acute humanitarian crisis. The country is suffering from a dramatic deterioration of its social and industrial infrastructure, and a sharp decline in the provision of social services, health and education. The real income of most families has shrunk considerably, with large sectors of the population not able to meet even basic food needs.
Under these conditions, many vulnerable groups require continued and immediate humanitarian assistance to ensure their survival during the winter months. Donors are urged to provide generous support to help the most needy in Tajikistan.
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