United Nations appeals for funds to alleviate food insecurity in Tajikistan

(Dushanbe/Dubai/New York/Geneva, 25 September, 2008): The United Nations, in consultation with the Government of Tajikistan and other humanitarian partners, has issued a Humanitarian Food Security Appeal for $34,746,555 to provide a temporary safety net for 800,000 of the most vulnerable people across the country.

Recent assessments indicate that a further 1.3 million people out of the total population of 6.7 million are at risk of food shortages as a combined result of reduced agricultural output and the global food crisis. Earlier this year, Tajikistan experienced its most severe winter in 44 year, drought and locust infestation, in addition to significant increases in food and fuel costs that have undermined access to food for large segments of the population.

"Despite good economic growth over the past years in Tajikistan, the food security situation for the most vulnerable groups has been deteriorating, and it requires urgent humanitarian assistance from the international community," said Michael Jones, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Tajikistan.

The Appeal, which covers a 15-month period from October 2008 to December 2009, aims to offer short- and long-term relief by providing food and cash assistance, as well as rehabilitating critical infrastructure and supporting the agriculture sector through the next planting and harvest cycle. Thirteen relief organizations that are active in the food security sector are participating, with a total of 21 project proposals to address immediate food requirements, prevention and treatment of malnutrition and livelihood restoration through agricultural support.

"We can reduce the impact of the food insecurity we are facing in Tajikistan if donors react quickly," stated Mr. Jones. "The sooner that we can start working to address the underlying structural issues that cause food insecurity, through programmes such as locust prevention, the more suffering we will be able to prevent," he added.

For further information, please call: Gabriella Waaijman, OCHA-Almaty, +77 777809 071, waaijman@un.org, Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126 and mobile +1 917 892 1679, bunker@un.org; John Nyaga, OCHA-NY, 1 917 367 9262, nyagaj@un.org; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 79 473 4570; Nadia Evans, OCHA-Dubai, +971 502279808, evans2@un.org.

OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int