IOM and the government of Tajikistan have opened an Emergency
Operations Centre (EOC) in the capital, Dushanbe, to support
disaster response and recovery efforts in a country prone to
natural disasters.

In the last 10 years, the country has suffered from repeated
floods, mudslides, droughts and earthquakes. Nearly 4,900 people
have lost their lives in these disasters in that time, mainly in
poor rural areas.

Using the latest communications technologies, the Emergency
Operations Centre will be able to respond to disasters like these
to quickly reach the relevant authorities and organizations in the
affected districts.

The centre, affiliated with the Committee  for Emergency
Situations and Civil Defence, is linked with the main regions of
Khujand and Kulyab in order to provide well-timed emergency relief
and help expedite evacuations of disaster-affected populations in
need.

"It is our goal to be as well prepared as possible to deal with
emergencies and disasters in our country. The establishment of a
new EOC will support effective emergency operations and help to
achieve compliance with government guidelines. I believe it's the
strong relationship that we have developed with IOM and its staff
that has put us one step closer to realizing this project," said
Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil
Defense, General-major Latipov.

IOM has assisted the Committee for Emergency Situations and
Civil Defence in the construction of the centre and in supplying it
with technical advice and tools.   The centre is staffed
by an experienced professional team, who will analyze, validate and
effectively exchange information when activated for a response to
an emergency.

"The opening of the Emergency Operations Centre is a very
important step undertaken by Tajikistan's government. It shows how
committed the government is to being prepared in responding to
emergencies," says IOM Tajikistan Chief of Mission Zeynal
Hajiyev.

The EOC, located on the outskirts of the capital, Dushanbe, has
been renovated and equipped with funding from the Japanese
government. As this is the first initiative of its kind, the centre
will be developed further in order to improve its ability to
respond to disasters.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Alexander Kapirovsky

IOM Tajikistan

Tel: (+992 37) 221 03 02

E-mail:  "mailto:akapirovsky@iom.int">akapirovsky@iom.int