The Central Asian country of Tajikistan, the poorest in the region, is in the grips of an energy shortage that threatens to cause a severe humanitarian crisis. With all of Central Asia experiencing one of the coldest winters in decades, TajikistanÂ?s energy resources are particularly strained because of the countryÂ?s dependence on hydroelectric power, according to the
Frozen rivers mean turning to neighbouring countries for energy supplies, but these imports have now been reduced as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan face their own increased demand. While the main Tajik hydropower stations donÂ?t have enough water to run their turbines,
Power supplies have been severely rationed and people in the villages are receiving only BBC says itÂ?s possible electricity could cut out altogether. Authorities in the capital city of Dushanbe say theyÂ?re concerned about water-borne epidemics if a minimum power supply operating the
Heavy snowfall has blocked roads and left tens of thousands of people an avalanche wiped out a section of highway linking the capital to the country's north.
About two-thirds of TajikistanÂ?s people live below the poverty line. Price rises means that what used to be the entire budget for a familyÂ?s survival is now barely enough to food shortages are becoming severe.
The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that half a million local people are now unable to afford even Ferghana Information Agency: "Cattle is butchered because the population needs to eat. What will happen to these people tomorrow? Cattle is often their primary source of income and nourishment."
issued an appeal for $25m in aid for the country. The U.N. childrenÂ?s agency and the World Health Organisation have already responded with
A post by blogger Vadim on
The BBC cites a Tajik journalist saying that the Radio Free Europe reports that Tajik officials still went ahead with an electricity price hike of 20 percent in order to repay debts to the World Bank.
Looking ahead, the heavy snowfall that today blankets Tajikistan could lead to spring crop of fruit and vegetables, one of the countryÂ?s few exports, may have been destroyed by the severe weather.
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