Thanks to the Swiss contribution, WFP will be able to assist 18,000 vulnerable people in Tajikistan being directly affected by the socio-economic impacts caused by the pandemic. This will help vulnerable people in meeting their basic food needs through cash assistance in exchange for participation in public works such as irrigation canals, drinking water supply systems and reforestation. These actions will benefit the communities also in the long term.
WFP will prioritize food-insecure households - of which many are women-headed - particularly at risk due to high food prices and reduced remittances from migrant workers.
“WFP is grateful to the Government of Switzerland for its commitment to support the people of Tajikistan during these difficult times. This contribution will help us to provide the much-needed assistance as well as enhance the resilience of the most vulnerable people in the most remote districts of the country,” said the WFP Representative and Country Director, Mr. Alberto Correia Mendes.
“Switzerland remains very active in helping Tajikistan to counter the impacts of the outbreak of coronavirus and improving the resilience of the population. Ensuring food security is vital and urgent in rural and remote areas. People in these areas suffer from decreased income opportunities, and therefore are not able to purchase enough food for their families. While sanitary measures such as social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks prevent from infection, immune system can be supported by the consumption of sufficient and healthy food,” – noted Walburga Roos, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan.
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WFP has been working in Tajikistan since 1993. In addition to its extensive, school feeding and nutrition programmes, this UN agency implements climate change adaptation and resilience-building interventions. In 2019, WFP assisted some 30,000 people through resilience-building projects across the country. Furthermore, the organization supports the Government of Tajikistan and other development partners to strengthen national emergency preparedness and response capacities.
For more information, please contact:
Alisher Shabdolov/Swiss Cooperation Office Dushanbe
Email: alisher.shabdolov@eda.admin.ch
Nasrullo Ramazonov/WFP Dushanbe
Mob: +992 900 09 29 87
Email: nasrullo.ramazonov@wfp.org
