UN warns of further avalanches

Warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches in Tajikistan, where hundreds of snow-slides have occurred over the past 10 days, the UN warned on Wednesday. "The risk has definitely increased," Ole Ramsing, manager of the United Nations Disaster Risk Management Project (DRMP) in Tajikistan told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, noting some 2,800 people had already been evacuated by the authorities. While most roads were open, people throughout much of the former Soviet republic were being advised not to travel unnecessarily, Ramsing said, with those evacuated living in public buildings or staying with relatives. "The weather is not very cold and the sun is shining in most places. This makes the snow heavier and increases the risk of avalanches. It's definitely high risk," he said. Tarik Kadir, country manager of the UK-based medical NGO Merlin, which has pre-positioned blankets, clothing and medical supplies in the Rasht Valley, told IRIN their staff had been advised to travel in the early morning or evening when temperatures were colder and avalanches less likely. Tajikistan has witnessed hundreds of avalanches over the past 10 days. These have been located mainly in the country's Rasht Valley east of the capital, the Varzob Valley north of the capital, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast in the country's southeast and the southern Khatlon region. "More than 375 avalanches were reported in one area alone," Ramsing said, referring to the country's southeast Pamir region. "Further avalanches are expected in [eastern] Gorno Badakhshan region and our units on the ground are closely monitoring the situation," Jamilya Tilloyeva, a spokeswoman for the Tajik emergency ministry, told IRIN from Dushanbe. According to the Tajik meteorological services, heavy snow and fog is expected on 9 - 11 February in some regions of the country and the danger of avalanches remains high. At least 16 people were killed and dozens more injured after storms dumping up to 2.5 metres of snow in some areas of the mountainous state, affecting tens of thousands of people. "At least 50 homes have been destroyed, with hundreds more damaged or affected," Ramsing said, speaking of the after-effects of the avalanches and heavy snows that began earlier this month. "Many people are living with families or living in schools, mosques and other public buildings. Basically they are crammed together," he added. Meanwhile, efforts to reach isolated villages, many accessible only by foot, continued on Wednesday, with local authorities finding it difficult to get assistance to those in need. "Although road cleaning is continuing there are still villages which are cut off and it is difficult to access them," Tilloyeva remarked. Bad weather has hampered assessment missions to many parts of the country and according to Daniela Owen, deputy country director of the World Food Programme (WFP), the full picture of the situation remains unclear. "WFP has dispatched food to 500 families in the affected areas," she told IRIN, noting the logistical difficulties of reaching certain areas. An assessment of the Degdonak village [Mujikhard Jamoat, Nurobod District] on Monday, by the WFP's field office in Gharm found the village of 965 people severely affected by heavy snow, with nine dead and three injured. On Tuesday the WFP began distributing 10 days emergency food rations to the 420 most affected people, with an additional one month of emergency food rations to be distributed shortly. The UN food agency also conducted an assessment of the villages of Miskinobod and Qalai Dasht in the Faizobod District. They found 170 villagers in Miskinobod and a further 150 in Qalai Dahst to be suffering badly from the weather there. The agency is planning to distribute emergency food rations to the villagers there on Thursday. Bad weather has been affecting the Tavildara district since Saturday and a planned helicopter trip to that area has been unable to take off. According to Owen, 1 mt of WFP emergency food aid for the 50 worst affected families, providing 10 days-worth of rations, will be dispatched together with other emergency aid as soon as the weather improves. The next flight is scheduled for Thursday morning.