Days of heavy rain in late May, 2018, caused flooding in southern parts of Tajikistan.
Between 17 and 26 May, at least 6 people died and 5,525 were affected in 9 villages in the Farkhor (Parkhar) and Panj districts of Khatlon Province. Both districts are situated along the Panj river which forms the border with Afghanistan.
At least 26 houses (20 in Panj, 6 in Farkhor) were completely destroyed. Farm land, roads, bridges and irrigation channels were also damaged.
In a report (pdf) of 02 June, the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that “According to the results of the rapid assessment conducted by the Government Emergency Response Commission and the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense under the Government of Tajikistan (CoES) between 17 and 26 May, at least 6 people were killed, 1,145 households (5,725 people) were heavily affected, infrastructure objects were damaged or destroyed in Farkhor and Panj districts of Khatlon Province.”
IFRCS said that there is a high risk of waterborne diseases and epidemics due to poor hygiene and sanitation. As of 02 June, there was only partial access to drinking water.
The affected communities need help in removing flood debris and mud and require non-food relief items such as bedding, cooking implements and construction tools are also required.
Parts of Afghanistan also saw heavy rain and flooding during the same period, leaving at least 72 people dead and over 800 homes destroyed.
Previous Floods in Tajikistan
A period of heavy rain in Tajikistan caused deadly mudflows and rivers to overflow in May 2016. Thousands of homes were flooded in villages near the capital, Dushanbe. At least 2 people died in mudflows in Sughd Region in north-western Tajikistan.
In July 2015, around 10,000 people were evacuated after floods and mudflows in the Shugnan District in the eastern region of Gorno-Badakhshan. The debris blocked the flow of the Gund river, creating an artificial lake which flooded areas along the river.
