Strengthening the preparedness of local communities/authorities for natural disasters, esp. flooding in the Zeravshan valley/Tajikistan in summer 2017

Tajikistan is prone to natural disasters, e.g. floods, earthquakes, landslides, mudflows, avalanches, droughts, and heavy snowfalls. Its mountainous terrain, coupled with the specific geological and hydrological conditions, translates into a high degrees of vulnerability towards climate change. At the same time, Tajikistan‘s deteriorating infrastructure has increased the population‘s vulnerability to extreme weather events and seismic risks. With most assets, including irrigation channels, river embankments, roads, bridges, and dams, built in the Soviet era, infrastructure maintenance remains weak due to limited financial resources and lack of knowledge by the government. Existing mudflow drainage systems along the villages are destroyed or slatted over the years, which when rapidly filled increase the risk of human casualties and physical damages. The costs of foreseen mudflows can be assessed much higher than for social and physical preparedness measures. With clear evidence of increased risk, combined with existing vulnerabilities in the most remote regions of Tajikistan, the Start Network voted in support of activating the Fund in anticipation of flooding and landslides.