Tajikistan : In Central Asia, early action saves lives

This video features the simulation exercise of the Tajikistan Red Crescent Society, conducted in the framework of an ECHO-funded disaster preparedness programme.

Shot on 23 September 2008 in the remote mountain area of Rasht valley, site of a strong earthquake on 22 July 2008, around 200 kms north-west of Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan. Cameraman: Lev Konovalov.


When trained disaster response teams of Tajikistan Red Crescent volunteers and staff arrived on the site of an earthquake that measured 5.5 on the Richter scale in Rasht, eastern Tajikistan, only six hours after the disaster struck on 22 July last year, it was proof if needed that good, community-based disaster preparedness training helps save lives, reduce risk and promptly deliver vital assistance to survivors. The Red Crescent team was the first on the scene to provide first aid, assess needs and bring emergency relief to 720 of the most affected people.

Since the beginning of 2007, and with support from the European Commission humanitarian aid department (ECHO), the Red Crescent Societies in five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, have developed national and regional contingency plans and set up national disaster response teams to meet humanitarian needs more effectively in an extremely disaster-prone region.

The funding supports the training of national disaster preparedness teams in emergency response, first aid, relief coordination and needs assessments, the pre-positioning of stocks, as well as the setting up of telecommunications systems and logistics. Regular simulation exercises are also organized, to refresh peoples skills and knowledge about disaster preparedness, along with the distribution of information leaflets.

For the shot list and transcription of the interviews in Tajik, please contact our AV Officer:
http://www.ifrc.org/contact/index.asp

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More information: http://www.ifrc.org/what/disasters/reducing/day.asp

ECHO website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Red
• Cross
• International
• Crescent
• IFRC
• Disaster
• Relief
• Preparedness
• Health
• Humanitarian
• Assistance
• Volunteers
• Humanity