Remarks by Dr. (Ms.) Pratibha Mehta

UNDP Resident Representative

Date/time: 13 October 2021, at 10 a.m.

Venue: CoES Search and Rescue Building

Dear Mr. Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan,

Your Excellency Mr. Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan,

Distinguished partners and colleagues,

We are all here this morning, during these challenging and exceptional times, because we are all determined to put in place the necessary measures to prevent life loss. The world is experiencing one of the most destructive and profound structural, social and economic shocks in recent history in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The recent developments in Afghanistan, linked to the political and humanitarian crisis and governance, pose a serious threat to regional security and stability. The crisis situation in Afghanistan, which shares almost 1,400 km of border with Tajikistan, cannot leave the Government and the people of Tajikistan indifferent. As we know, the Government is preparing a refugee response action plan and has recently started coordinating on this with development partners.

It is my immense pleasure today to participate at opening ceremony of this warehouse of non-food items, constructed with the aim to establish relief supply stockpiles in Tajikistan for use in cross-border areas of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. This infrastructure is part of the continued UNDP efforts to help vulnerable communities living in the bordering areas of Tajikistan and Afghanistan within the framework of the project “Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Capacities” funded by the Government of Japan. This warehouse, with total value of 3 mln. Tajik Somoni, is filled with 53 types of non-food items, including tents, bedding, kitchen utensils, stoves, clothes, hygiene items and etc. which are deemed to cover primary needs of at least 100 families.

We are now also working to finalize the construction of another, similar infrastructure in Khorog, that will also be utilized to support communities living along Tajikistan and Afghanistan border in case of emergency.

I would like to thank the People of Japan and personally his Excellency Ambassador Miyashita, for commendable support in strengthening disaster risk management efforts in Tajikistan. I would like to also express our sincere appreciation to the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defence for the continuous cooperation.

In conclusion, I would like to reconfirm that UNDP will continuously put all efforts to build resilience to disasters and shocks in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and globally, as an active partner of national governments supporting them in the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Agenda 2030.

Thank you very much.