On 11 July, the International Federation of
Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies Tajikistan Delegation together with the Red
Crescent Society of Tajikistan held a press conference launching of the Federation’s
"World Disasters Report 2000". Since 1993, the International Federation has
published annual World Disasters Reports focusing on disasters, ranging from natural
hazards to human-induced crisis and the millions of people affected by them. The report
analyses cutting edge issues, assesses practical methodologies, examines recent experience
and collates a comprehensive disaster database. Regrettably, the situation in Tajikistan
leaves much to be desired.

The Federation and the Tajik Red Crescent has been carrying on a dialogue with
executive officials of the Ministry for Emergencies and the Ministry of Health to discuss
their major concerns in the sphere of public health in the country. Since 1994, the
International Federation Delegation has been working in Tajikistan in close cooperation
with the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, rendering humanitarian assistance to the most
vulnerable. The Federation network comprises of 176 countries. Together, the National
Societies comprise 97 million volunteers and 295 thousand employees, who provide
assistance to some 216 million beneficiaries around the world each year.

According to the Tajikistan officials, the number of cases of brucellosis increased by
160%, malaria by 23%, and Tuberculosis by 140%. Last year, 142 people died of preventable
diseases, compared to 33 who died in natural disasters. The biggest concern of the Tajik
Health authorities is the poor condition for diagnosing AIDS. So far, only five
HIV-infected individuals have been diagnosed in Tajikistan, all of them in Leninabad
province. One of the AIDS patients died last year. But this does not mean that the number
of HIV cases is low since the turbulent pattern of migration within the Central Asian
region and Russia must be taken into consideration. Very few of the local health
institutions have equipment and chemicals for testing for AIDS. And such institutions do
not guarantee that the AIDS results remain confidential and anonymous.

According to the last year's official figures, more than 50,000 people in Tajikistan
have been contaminated with typhoid since 1997. Most of the cases occurred in the capital
city, Dushanbe, and in some southern provinces. The main cause of such waterborn ailments
is poor conditions of the water-supply system. The International Federation of the
Red Cross and the Red Crescent Society’s Tajikistan Delegation FACE="Lucida Bright" SIZE="2">along with the Tajik National Society have been implementing
a "Water and Sanitation Program" in rural areas of Tajikistan. Since 1997 the
Delegation has launched a number of appeals to international donors, which assisted in
raising funds, procuring liquid chlorine and ensuring maintenance at water plants in
Dushanbe and its suburban areas.

Konstantin Parshin, producer of Radio NIC, Tajikistan