Throughout July, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International has provided emergency relief aid to 2,325 people affected by flooding in the Panjakent and Hamadoni regions of Tajikistan.

From July 10 to July 17, ADRA delivered emergency aid to 215 families in Panjakent, providing 22 tons of essential food items, such as vegetable oil, sugar, rice, flour, and children’s food, and emergency nonfood supplies, such as kitchen utensils, blankets, bedding, towels, and clothes. The total project is valued at US$9,782, and is funded by ADRA International, ADRA Tajikistan, and ADRA Euro-Asia, the regional headquarters for ADRA in Russia.

More than 3,000 people have been affected by the storms that swept through this region in western Tajikistan between June 3 and June 8, causing mudflows that destroyed homes and in some cases, entire villages. According to a United Nations report, five people have been reported dead, including three children. Many are still missing.

In the Hamadoni region, an increase in the water level in the Panj River caused by the thawing of snow and glaciers turned into catastrophic flooding that lasted until July 19. More than 8,500 people have been affected, with only one known human casualty. The flooding also damaged entire villages, including 170 houses, 85 of which were completely destroyed.

ADRA is providing emergency aid items to 250 families in the Sayod village of the Hamadoni region. ADRA will provide 23 tons of food items, blankets, kitchen utensils, and clothing. The project, which is valued at approximately US$9,879, began on July 28 and is funded by ADRA International, ADRA Tajikistan, and ADRA Euro-Asia.

“Mudflows often affect our country, and ADRA is always ready to help,” said Arturo Finis, country director for ADRA Tajikistan. “In this specific situation, an ADRA team was close to the area when the disaster happened. ADRA’s staff immediately coordinated the response with the Minister of Emergency Situations, who was surprised and happy to see ADRA again working in the right place at the right time.”

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, or ethnicity.