#9, May 2012 Saving lives, changing minds

Наҷоти ҳаётҳо, тағйири нигоҳҳо

TAJIKISTAN RED CRESCENT’S NEWSLETTER

Supported by IFRC Country Representation in Tajikistan

The mercifulness has no borders

May

the Month of

the Red Crescent

THE RED CRESCENT MONTH IN TAJIKISTAN

Dearest readers!

In May we witnessed the historical moment for the

Red Crescent Movement in Tajikistan. Our beloved

country became the first country in the world which

officially devoted the whole month to this most fa-

mous charitable organization. If the whole world has

only one day to celebrate the Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent Day, i.e. on 8th May, Tajikistan now has the whole

month to celebrate it.

What does it give us? It attracts the thousands to the

charity and mercifulness, to the needs of thousands others.

We believe that the army of volunteers for the Red Crescent will increase due to this Month; without volunteers we were not able to reach so

many people in need and help them. We believe that the number of people, who want to take an extended and asking-for-help hand, will

increase.

Thousand years ago, a famous poet Rudaki the Great said: “Гар дасти фитодаеро бигирӣ, мардӣ”. (If you take the hand of a person-in-need,

you are the real man).

So, we believe in you, dears, that you will help us to help others. We hope to see you all soon dressed in the white cap and the red T-shirt

with the logo of Tajik Red Crescent and we know that you are not indifferent to the fate of your nation, your neighbors, relatives and friends,

and you are ready to help them.

Thanks to all of you. Be happy, healthy, and prosperous!

Zafar Muhabbatov, Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan Secretary General Eric Michel-Sellier, IFRC Country Representative in Tajikistan

UN EXPERT TO FOCUS ON THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IFRC Country Represen-

tation in Tajikistan hosted

a meeting with Mr.

Anand Grover, Special

Rapporteur on the Right

of Everyone to the Enjoy-

ment of the Highest

Attainable Standard of

Physical and Mental

Health, on 30 May 2012. In addition to IFRC Country Representation

staff, the representatives of other organizations, such as the Red Cres-

cent Society of Tajikistan, ICRC, Finnish Red Cross, Project “Hope”,

and USAID participated at the meeting.

Mr. Grover’s mission to Dushanbe started from May 24 and during

his visit he met with Tajik officials, health authorities, as well as inter-

national organizations. According to a press release of the United

Nations office, it is the first mission of an independent expert charged

by the UN Human Rights Council to Tajikistan to monitor the imple-

mentation of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest

attainable standard of physical and mental health. Mr. Anand Grover

visited Tajikistan at the invitation of the Government to make an in-

dependent assessment of the realization of the right to health in the

country. According to the high-level guest, within his visit he aimed

“to engage the Government, development partners and the civil society in

tackling the financial predicament of Tajikistan’s health system that relies

heavily on private out-of-pocket payments, estimated to be more than two-

thirds of total healthcare expenditure”.

Mr. Grover introducing the purpose of his visit drew a special atten-

tion to the affected people, who often face social stigma and discrimi-

nation. Being informed about the Red Crescent May celebrations in

Tajikistan, Mr. Grover called to use this opportunity and to talk about

the challenges of people’s access to the health.

In the meeting Mr. Grover was introduced with health-related pro-

jects implemented by RCST with IFRC support. Mr. Zafar Muhabba-

tov, RCST Secretary General mentioned the difficulties of attracting

the donors “despite of good capacity and governmental support we have”.

Mr. Eric Michel-Sellier, IFRC Country Representative in Tajikistan,

talking about his experience of cooperation with the officials and the

society in Tajikistan, stressed the exceptional readiness for changes he

witnessed here. He brought an example that “several years ago you

could not talk about the psychological support here, as people could refuse

their need, as well as the officials could refuse the need of population for it,

but few weeks ago during a field visit to an earthquake-affected area in the

eastern part of the country the president of the country came to us and re-

quested us to pay special attention to the provision of psychosocial support to

the affected people. If to speak about changing minds, than Tajikistan is the

right place to be an example”.

During the meeting in the IFRC office, the participants discussed the

challenges to identify ways to curb the disease effectively, treat pa-

tients respectfully and encourage human rights extensively.

The Special Rapporteur is an

independent expert appoint-

ed by the UN Human Rights

Council to help States, and

others, promote and protect

the right to the highest attain-

able standard of health (right

to health). Anand Grover

(India) is co-founder and

Director of the Lawyers Col-

lective HIV/AIDS Unit and

the Senior Counsel in India.

Q: Tahmin-banu, salom. First of all, we express our thankfulness to

you for accepting the invitation to be RC Goodwill Ambassador.

Could you please tell us, why did you accept this invitation and what

was your reaction when you first heard about this offer?

A: Salom and thank you. You know, I love to do good things myself. I

believe that each human being should help others, if he can.

I was very happy when Mr. Eric Michel-Sellier offered me to be the

Red Crescent Goodwill Ambassador. I think this is kind of a sign from

God. As if even one more person was aware of the Red Crescent

through me and if that makes that person help somebody else, than I

consider that I did my job well.

In general, I am very very happy that I had this opportunity to serve

the Red Crescent and this was happiness for me.

Q: Was it the first time you are volunteering?

A: I was a volunteer for the international organizations in Dushanbe,

when I was a student, but when I found a job, I was not able to

continue my volunteering experience.

I believe that volunteering opens new doors of full of opportunities

and experience for youth. Such kind of experience is very useful for

youth.

Q: Did you know before anything about Red Crescent?

A: It should be shame not to know about Red Cross and Red Crescent.

As it is the most famous humanitarian organization, which serves the

people all over the world and helps the people in need.

Q: It is clear that you were the first person of the Red Crescent during

this month as you are very famous. Please, tell me more what were

your duties during the Month of Red Crescent?

A: Of course, my duties did not consist of only presence in the most

important events of this month, speeches and interviews to media. I

did my best to become a symbol of attracting youth to volunteerism

for the Red Crescent. I tried to pass my voice to as more as possible

people and to increase the attraction to the Red Crescent. The volun-

teers are the main power of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and it

would not be possible to reach thousands and millions of people in

the world without volunteers. Millions in the world and thousands in

Tajikistan are always ready to spend their time and energy for the

assistance to others and this should be praised. If the Red Crescent

was able to help anybody and anywhere, one should know that the

hand of a helper, in fact, is the hand of a volunteer.

Q: Why such attention is paid to the youth?

A: The youth are the engine of each society, especially the Tajik socie-

ty. In our country, the power of youth is valued peculiarly, and this

peculiarity is in the number of youth. Despite of all sayings that mod-

ern youth have no value at all, we want to show that still thousands of

youth are ready to do their best for the humanitarian values, for mer-

cifulness and charity. We want to show that Tajik youth still are not

indifferent to what Rudaki the great said more than one thousand

years ago, when he called to take a hand of a person in need.

By the way, the motto of this year’s International Red Cross and Red

Crescent Day, which was celebrated on 8 May, was dedicated to the

youth too. It says, “Youth on Move: Doing more, doing better, and

reaching further”. I believe that we can go further and further with

more and better efforts of youth.

Q: Are you going to continue your volunteering in the future?

A: Sure, every time and everywhere when I can. To help each other

should be one of the goals of people’s life. Even human body parts are

the evidence that helping should be the priority. See, one foot helps

another to walk, one hand helps another<

Q: Tahmin-banu, can you kindly tell us about yourself?

A: I am Tahmina, a mother, a sister – a women. An actress, a law-

yer and a TV presenter. Just want to conclude the interview with a call

to everybody that one should think about others too. The real human

is that one, who thinks not only about himself.

Famous TV presenter and cinema actress Tahmina Rajabova

publicized humanitarian values and Red Crescent humanitarian

activities during one month in Tajikistan. Tahmina was a good-

will ambassador to the Month of Red Crescent in Tajikistan. We

had a small interview with Tahmina, the first ever RC Goodwill

Ambassador in Tajikistan.

THE RED CRESCENT MAY STAR: “HAPPY TO SERVE MY NATION”

Tajik pop and folk stars, famous comedy groups, as well as

young performers - winners of national and international competitions gave pleasure to hundreds guests of the Red Crescent charity concert

held on 5 May 2012 at “Kokhi Jomi” cinema. Tajik pop stars - Noziya Karomatullo and her brother Muhammadrofe’ Karomatullo, Saida

Sirojiddin, Sa’di Boorizad, folk singers – Afzalshoh Shodi, Saidqul Bilol, Qurbonali Abdullo, Muharrama Sharipova, most famous comedy

group of Tajikistan – “Lahzahoi Guvoro” made the audience dance, sing and have a fun. All proceeds from ticket sales collected during the

concert will be spent on charitable activities to support vulnerable people.

SUPERSTARS SING FOR THE RED CRESCENT

Read about it at TojNews

Watch photo-gallery at BBC Persian

See slide-show also

HAPPINESS IN THE HEARTS…

International Federation Country Representation in Tajikistan visited an orphan asylum in Dushanbe city and an elderly

house in Vahdat city on 8 May 2012, the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

…AND SMILES IN THE LIPS

Inhabitants of the house for elderly and invalids of Vahdat city al-

ready know most of IFRC staff personally. “Salom, salom

duston“ (Hello, friends) - Eric Michel-Sellier’s greetings in Tajiki al-

ways make them smile as it is always interesting to hear a local lan-

guage from the mouth of a foreigner.

While other colleagues were unloading flour, rice, tea and sugar

brought for Vahdat city elderly and invalids, 71-year-old Qurbonali

was telling his story to us: “I am here already for 15 years. I had children,

wife. I had a work. But now I am invalid. When my elder daughter was 5

years old, I was injured and became an invalid. My wife left me, and with-

out divorcing, got married for the second time. Since then I have not seen

them”.

There are some 96 old people and invalids aged 68-75 in this elderly

house and some 58 nurses serve them. And all of them have their

own story full of sadness. Ibrohim Safarov used to live in Rudaki

district. He says, he has 6 children, “but I do not know why my children

left me here. All of them are married, all of them have good jobs and good

earnings, but…but they do not have a heart, a conscience”.

Mumin, 62 years old man served in Chechnya. He was taken in hos-

tage. In 1997 he was released and came back to Tajikistan. He had a

wife and two daughters. At the moment, they live in Germany. Sev-

eral times, as he said, he tried to call and talk with his wife and

daughters, but could not reach them. After the death of his mother,

his sister sold a four-room apartment. And he had to come here.

According to him, the condition in the elderly house is good, and he

has no complaint.

A doctor, a mother of the only son, 65-year-old apai Rima has been

in this house for 3 years. “I liked this place, and do not want to go home.

My son is ashamed of me and several times insisted me to go home, but still

I am refusing. My son was married to a woman who was not so good. He

went to Russia for earning some money, I stayed with my daughter-in-

law”. (Probably that was the reason of her moving to the elderly

house). “They got divorced, thanks to God, and he married to a very good

woman. I have 2 sweet grandchildren”.

Maybe some time she will return and raise her grandchildren, says

Eric, today’s guest of these elderlies and invalids. He says, “We want

to communicate with them, so that they can feel that they are not forgotten,

to devote some time to make the people in need happy”.

IFRC staff organized a tea-party for children of this orphanage. Cakes,

sweets, cookies, juices were brought; drawing-books with colored pen-

cils, discs with animated cartoons were distributed.

The representatives of the orphanage say, many of the children have

mothers, but they are not able to take care of the children because of

the social and economic challenges.

Tahmina Rajabova, Goodwill Ambassador to the Month of Red Cres-

cent in Tajikistan visits this orphanage frequently and already many

children know her and call her “apajon” (sister). She says “I would

blame neither the parents of these children, nor their relatives. We all know

well the situation in most Tajiki families. But these cute and innocent children

need for the mercifulness. And it is the responsibility of everybody who can

visit these angels and bring happiness and joy to their hearts and smile to their

lips”.

Visitors spent unforgettable hours with the children, talking to them,

playing with them and feeding them. The children, as all children in

the world, were especially happy for cakes and sweets. Many of the

visitors could not keep themselves from dropping tears, every time

when happy children thanked them. Thousand times. That led to a

thought that they see visitors so rarely.

All of them called their nannies “Mummy”. “Mummy, please, give me

one more piece of cake”; “Mummy, please, pour out some juice”;

“Mummy, thank you very much< ”.

Shamsuddin Muhuddinov from the IFRC Country Representation

says, “Not only children are happy today. We also are happy to see the smile

of these children and the enjoyment of them. The eyes full of happiness because

of somebody’s visit are the

evidence that this world does

not consists of black and white

colors, but the world is full of

colors, full of happiness. I am

sure, these children will grow

up and some day they make

others happy. Today we made

them smile; tomorrow they will

make somebody else to smile”.

Read this story at BBC Persian

Watch more pictures

RED CRESCENT RUNS AT THE NATIONAL MARATHON

RED CRESCENT PLAYS FOOTBALL

Three teams – RCST Headquarter, RCST Dushanbe Branch and

Swiss Foundation for mine action (FSD) – competed with each other

for the Red Crescent Cup of May Month football competition.

It was very posi-

tive and great

friendly envi-

ronment compe-

tition and the

first football ex-

perience showed that this kind of sport events should be organized

more often in the future.

All the participants got positive impressions and had pleasure of the

matches. This competition had the main winner – Friendship!

Five students’ teams competed to win the KVN held under the Month

of the Red Crescent on May 12, 2012 at the “Kokhi Jomi” cinema.

KVN (Russian: КВН,

an abbreviation

of Клуб Весжлых и

Находчивых,

"Club of the Funny

and Inventive") is a

student competi-

tion where teams

compete by showing prepared sketches. KVN is a task-based team

competition in front of a live audience and judged by a panel of judges.

Based on the panel of judges’ grades, Tajik Technical University won

the competition. Tajik Pedagogical University named the second team

and the bronze was given to Tajik Technological University students.

The winners received their prizes from the hands of Tahmina Ra-

jabova, the Goodwill Ambassador of the Red Crescent. All proceeds

from ticket sales will be spent on

charitable activities to support vul-

nerable people.

The Red Crescent volunteers and staff with their red and white T-shirts and caps and with flags in the hands were an important part of mara-

thoners this year at the National Marathon Day on May 20.

Governmental Marathon was started from Varzob gates and continued through the almost whole centre of the capital city of Dushanbe.

RCST has its great pleasure to join this big cooperated event with the volunteers, school pupils and Dushanbe branch staff. The National Soci-

ety had provided T-shirts, caps and flags to all 60 participants. More than 50 Red Crescent staff and volunteers participated at the National

Marathon in Khujand city too.

Nabijon Sidikshoev, RCST Youth and Volunteers Coordinator says, that the Red Crescent volunteers had also opportunity to meet and dis-

cuss future cooperation with other volunteers from different NGO’s during this productive Marathon event. He says: “I would like to mention

that different programs related to the youth, volunteering and health care lifestyle were organized among NGO’s youth network within the country in order

to improve the knowledge, gain new information and share experiences with each other and mainly involve youth into joining our Movement”.

Top-ten runners have been awarded with special prizes by the Red Crescent. Parviz Sharipov, one of the prize-winner volunteers, says “Oh, I

did not know that I can run so fast J. Joking, of course. What I would like to say. I would like to thank the organizers of this Marathon and I hope that our

Red Crescent will be developed as fast as its volunteers run in this Marathon”.

Watch more pictures

WHO IS MOST FUNNY AND INVENTIVE?

Matches:

RCST HQ 5:4 RCST Dushanbe Branch

RCST HQ 11:0 FSD

Teams:

Tajik Technical University

Tajik Technological University

Tajik Pedagogical University

Moscow State University Branch

RCST Volunteers Team

DELIVERING ASSISTANCE TO EARTHQUAKE-AFFECTED PEOPLE

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) supported the

Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) in

delivering non-food items, construction tools, provision of psychosocial support and disaster

awareness information materials to the earthquake-affected people in Rasht, Nurobod and

Tavildara districts.

Within this DREF, the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan provided support to 558 families

(3,348 beneficiaries). The operation included the provision of immediate non-food items sup-

port to 86 households, replenishment of the Red Crescent disaster preparedness stocks with

non-food items already distributed to support 110 households, as well as provision of con-

struction tools to these 196 households. Psychosocial support is being provided for all 558

families suffering from the earthquake and aftershocks psychological effects. The provision of

disaster awareness information materials is planned.

As a result of strong earthquake that occurred on 13 May 2012, some 33 villages in 3 districts

were affected in the eastern part of Tajikistan. According to the preliminary assessments, the

earthquake killed 2 and affected an estimated 2,531 people - residents of the 86 destroyed and

276 damaged residential buildings. The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan supported by the

International Federation has been active from the first hours of the earthquake. RCST has

started its operation with deployment of 50 Local Disaster Committee members in all three

affected districts and 8 National Disaster Response Team members. The deployed staff and

volunteers conducted needs assessment, rendered first aid and are providing psychosocial

support to disaster affected people in Rasht, Nurobod and Tavildara districts.

On 16 May 2012, RCST leadership and IFRC Country Representative have visited most affect-

ed area, Tavildara district, to coordinate the RCST activities and meet with heads of local mu-

nicipalities. Mr. Eric Michel-Sellier, IFRC Country Representative in Tajikistan says, “People

lost their houses and properties as a result of the disaster. We feel pain for the affected people and we

will not leave them alone. As the Government of Tajikistan is delivering food and tents, we decided to

provide the affected people with non-food items and construction tools. By saying non-food items we

mean quilts, bed linen, mattresses, pillows, water cans, buckets, cooking sets, hygiene kits, etc. The aid

has already been delivered to the area”.

On 16 May 2012, the President of Tajikistan met the RCST Deputy Secretary General and IFRC

Country Representative in Tajikistan in the field to discuss the actions taken by the National

Society to assist the affected population. The President of Tajikistan expressed his appreciation to both organizations and requested to pro-

vide psychosocial support to people suffered from disaster affect.

Watch more pictures

DISASTERS ATTACK ON TAJIKISTAN

The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a fund set up by the International Federation of Red Cross

and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red

Cross/Red Crescent emergency response to disasters.

In addition to the earthquake in the eastern part of Tajikistan,

the republic was hit by numerous mudflows, floods and ava-

lanches at the end of April and throughout May. Increased

and intense precipitations have triggered numerous disasters

in different districts of the country. Heavy rains caused land-

slides, mudslides, floods and avalanches in total in 18 cities

and districts throughout the country killing 2 and injured 7

more people in Panjakat and Rudaki districts, killing about

100 livestock, damaging houses, auxiliary facilities, social

infrastructure, water supply systems and irrigation channels,

gardens, cultivated lands, trees, roads and bridges, etc.

In response to the occurred disasters, RCST deployed its staff

and volunteers including National Disaster Response Team

members and Local Disaster Committee members in all dis-

asters affected sites. The team members were involved in

conducting rapid situation assessment and rendering first

and psychosocial aid, participation in evacuation activities,

selection and registration of beneficiaries and distribution of

the non-food items according to agreed criteria with local

authorities and other stakeholders.

Location

Bed-

ding

Set*

Hy-

giene

kits

Cook

ing

set

Construc-

tion

tools

Shovels,

Hoes,

Axe

Water

cans,

buckets

The

rmo

ses

Tavildara 65 65 65 65 65 130 65

Rasht** 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Nurobod 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

Rudaki 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

Varzob 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Vahdat 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Mumino-

bod 23 23 23 23 23 23 23

Panj 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

J. Rasulov 14 14 14 14 14 14 14

Ghonchi 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Asht 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Rumi 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Qumsangir 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Provided Humanitarian Aid by RCST (non-food items)

*include- mattresses, quilts, pillows, bed linen for 6 persons; **including 3 all weather tents

TAJIK CUSTOMS OFFICIALS WERE INTRODUCED TO DISASTER LAW About 80 representatives of the Customs Service participated at a lecture on disaster risk and

IFRC Disaster Law programme on 16 May 2012. The current lecture was proposed by the Cus-

toms Service representatives. The audience was middle and low-level employees of the Cus-

toms Service headquarters. The programme of the lecture included Red Cross history, IFRC

mission, disaster risk and special attention was paid to the disaster law. After the lecture some

materials (Disaster Law leaflet in Tajiki, IFRC Tajikistan Country Representation leaflets in

Tajiki and Russian, RCST/IFRC latest issue of the newsletter, RCST Disaster Management

leaflet, IDRL Guidelines in Tajiki, DVD with all Disaster Law related information) were dis-

seminated among the participants.

The lecture was interactive and attracted the attention of the listeners. They were very inter-

ested, especially in increasing the number of disasters, the necessity of preparations, including

legal preparations and the linkage between coverage of a disaster and provided assistance. Being introduced into the Guidelines and the Mod-

el Act Law customs-related points, the representatives of the Customs Service said that most of recommendations regarding the customs are

already implemented in Tajikistan. But the challenge is that that Customs officers in the fields in some cases are not aware of the laws and leg-

islation and in other cases do not understand the importance of the issue. There was a proposal to assist the Customs Service in increasing the

awareness of their officers in the fields via special leaflets and/or trainings.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BELIEF TO NEW AND BETTER LIFE

Meetings with Tajik

officials including

the President of

country, with UN

officials, with am-

bassadors, inter-

views with local and

international media,

participation at the RC celebrations, charity

actions and visiting disaster-affected people –

it was my schedule in May. When you work

in Tajikistan, your calendar is always full of

notes of meetings and events. It is not only

because you have to work a lot and hard, but

it is also because you have opportunities for

looking for collaboration and cooperation.

Tajik officials are always ready to listen to

you, to share their views and accept sugges-

tions for mutual cooperation. In the same

time, they expect you to strictly follow your

mission - mission of assistance to people who

need this assistance. So, I was not surprised

when the President of Tajikistan Emomali

Rahmon seeing us, the Red Cross/Red Cres-

cent representatives in the earthquake-

affected area of Tavildara, came directly to us

and asked – What kind of assistance was pro-

vided and what kind of actions is planned by

the Red Crescent? Mr. President was especial-

ly glad to hear about our psychological sup-

port to the affected and shocked people. He

thanked the Red Crescent Society of Tajiki-

stan and IFRC for the timely response to the

disaster and acting in the area which is usual-

ly remained out of the glance in Tajikistan –

provision of psychological support.

People who lost their loved ones, their prop-

erties, everything and sitting in the ruins

without enough food and hygiene – I saw this

kind of people, who looking lost and without

any hope in the eye for recovery not only

during my visit to Tavildara, but many many

times. These people in addition to food, in

addition to shelter, in addition to hygiene and

other items, need for the words which can

reanimate the hope to life in their hearts, the

words which ginger their love to life up. And

luckily we were able to train tens of Red Cres-

cent staff and volunteers who can say the

right word in the right place – psychosocial

team of RCST showed its ability to return

people’s spirit to the normal life many times.

Many times – because the country faced dis-

asters a lot. And there’s a need to increase the

number of these teams and to improve the

skills of their members – because the country

is prone to disasters and seems, unfortunate-

ly, we will witness disasters a lot.

Reduction of the disaster risk and prepared-

ness to the disasters in order to decrease the

fatal and financial consequences were one of

the main topics of talks in my meeting with

UN officials - Mr. Anand Grover, the Special

Envoy for Human Rights and Access to

Health for People on May 30 and Mr. Alexan-

der Zuev, UNDP Resident Representative in

Tajikistan on May 18. Mr. Anand showed

deep interest in our activities, especially on

HIV and TB prevention, as well as, we dis-

cussed the possible future cooperation. In

discussion with Mr. Zuev, he expressed spe-

cial interest to the proposal on cooperation on

cross-border issues and programmes between

Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Cross-border issues was in the focus of dis-

cussions with Mr. Robin Ord-Smith, the Am-

bassador of the Great Britain to Tajikistan on

May 18 and Dr. Abdoul Ghafour, the Ambas-

sador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

to Tajikistan on May 24. The British ambassa-

dor expressed his readiness to support small

programmes on cross-border issues, as well

as his interest in visiting the Red Crescent

programmes in the regions and following

DFID funding. The Afghan ambassador was

very glad that a cooperation agreement will

be signed between the Red Crescent Societies

of Tajikistan and Afghanistan this June with

IFRC support. Dr. Abdoul Ghafour said that

he is extremely ready to support the Red

Crescent as much as he can.

That is very impressive that new opportuni-

ties are being opened for RCST. The National

Society is entering a new, higher level and

very soon will play an important role at the

regional arena of the humanitarian activity.

The evidence of that is increased attention of

local and international media to this organi-

zation. BBC Persian and CA-News, Asia Plus,

Tojnews, Khovar and Ozodagon news agen-

cies, TV stations, local state and private radi-

os, as well as tens of print and internet media,

frequently pay heed to our activities. These

media give us a chance to promote humani-

tarian values, a chance to call hundreds of

new, active, smart and young volunteers to

RCST. The

same hopes

I declared

in the RC

Month opening ceremony, where I had a

meeting with Ms. Qurbonova, first deputy of

Tajik Prime-Minister.

As, when you see even Tajik labour migrants

- one of most vulnerable groups of the popu-

lation, especially when they are abroad to

earn a piece of bread for their families – who

come to our centers for migrants not only for

getting information and knowledge, but also

for volunteering to assist other migrants, than

you understand that this world is still full of

light and colours. I told this to the representa-

tives of Russian Migration Service (just turn

the page at this Newsletter for more details of

this meeting) and I am ready to tell this to the

whole world – the life is beautiful and every

person, despite of all challenges and difficul-

ties should believe and make others to believe

in it and none should lose his heart. Making

others to believe in this, when you take their

hands extended for help – is our mission and

our duty.

Eric Michel-Sellier

Watch a TV programme on the

Red Crescent at “Safina” TV

Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Monthly Newsletter #9, May 2012

Circulation: 90 120, Umar Khayyom str., Dushanbe, 734017. Republic of Tajikistan

Tel.: (+992 37) 2240374; 2240033; 2244296 Tel/Fax: (+992 37) 224 4433; 224 8520

E-mail: abdulfattoh@inbox.ru

Web-home: www.tajikistanrc.wordpress.com

Ms. Tatyana Bazhan, Head of Integration Assistance Department at the Federal Migration

Service of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Victor Semenev, Head of the Russian Federation

Federal Migration Service, Representation in Tajikistan visited IFRC Country Representation

Office in Dushanbe on May 21, 2012 to discuss the possible cooperation on provision of infor-

mational and educational services to labour migrants from Tajikistan.

Mr. Eric Michel-Sellier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Country Representative in Tajikistan, welcoming the guests from the Federal Migration Ser-

vice of the Russian Federation, mentioned the high importance of educating current and po-

tential migrants, as well as providing their families with psychosocial support and trainings.

He said: “Many of labour migrants who leave their homes have less knowledge about the laws of the

country of destination, the labour market, have a language barrier and all these factors

make migrants vulnerable. In many cases, living and working conditions lead to the spread of diseases, as well as psychological problems. It is very im-

portant for migrants to study Russian language, migration and labour-related legislation in their country of destination, and to have some skills, such as

new-tech knowledge. Furthermore, migrants’ families should receive psychological support, as it is not easy for them to be far from their sons, husbands,

brothers for a long period”.

Mr. Michel-Sellier introduced the guests with IFRC regional project on migration, being

implemented in four Central Asian republics including Tajikistan. “Central Asian Red

Crescent Societies Network on labour migration issues” project had been launched in 2009

with the financial support of the European Union. Under this project, 5 out of 12 informa-

tional-educational centres for migrants had been established in Tajikistan – in Vose’, Panj,

Asht, Shahriston and Roshtqal’a districts.

Ms. Dilorom Mirova, Deputy Secretary General of the Red Crescent Society of Tajik-

istan (RCST), informed the guests about the activities of these centres, mentioning

that during the project implementation (2009-2011), more than 15,000 people have

benefited from the centres. She said: “These centres provide informational and educa-

tional services on legal issues, prevention of various diseases, in particular, HIV and tuber-

culosis, assist in the search, as well as aid in the delivery of messages to the families of mi-

grants. Russian language and computer literacy classes are also held in the centres”.

Ms. Tatyana Bazhan, sharing the impressions from her recent visit to one of

RCST centres for migrants in Vose’ district, said, that she was pleasantly

surprised with the professional level of the Russian and computer literacy

classes. Ms. Bazhan talking about the Russian Federation’s FMS activities,

pointed out to the directions of possible cooperation. Mr. Victor Semenev,

Head of Russian Federation Federal Migration Service Representation in

Tajikistan, proposed to collaborate on developing informational materials,

as well as conducting joint lectures on legal issues.

EDUCATING TAJIK MIGRANTS DISCUSSED WITH RUSSIAN FMS

Tajikistan Population: 7,487,489 (July 2010 est.)

0-14 years: 34.3%

15-64 years: 62.1%

65 years and over: 3.6%

Net migration rate:

-1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Reach our educational centres for migrants and their families:

Vose’ - Abduvali Mirzoev str. Tel: (+992) 90 797 6072

Panj—7 Novobolnichnaya str. Tel: (+992) 93 519 8311

Asht—Shaydon, 74 I.Somoni str. Tel: (+992) 918 51 97 52

Shahriston—7 Istaravshan str. Tel: (+992) 918 18 16 56

Roshtqal’a—3/1 Javonon str. Tel: (+992) 91 948 8897

Services provided (2009-2011)

Legal issues consultations: 3,721 men, 2,049 women

Russian language: 3,423 men, 893 women

Computer skills: 2,460 men, 1,691 women

Total: 9,604 men, 5,633 women

A cooperation agreement was signed between the Migration Service

under the Government of Tajikistan and the Red Crescent Society of

Tajikistan on May 2, 2012. The agreement was signed by Mr. Safiallo

Devonaev, Head of the Migration Service and Mr. Zafar Muhabbatov,

RCST Secretary General.

During the meeting Mr. Devonaev said that the Migration Service

plans to establish training centres on pre-migration preparation to

train the potential migrants on new skills, languages and legal issues.

Mr. Muhabbatov noted about the Red Crescent experience in training

migrants under the informational-educational centres for migrants the

Society has. Cooperation on this area was actively discussed in the

meeting and the sides agreed to continue the negotiations on mapping

future collaboration.

AN AGREEMENT TO EASE MIGRANTS’ LIFE ICRC GIVES LECTURES FOR TAJIK MFA

On 10-11 May 2012,

the International

Committee of the

Red Cross together

with the Red Cres-

cent Society of Tajiki-

stan conducted lec-

tures for 50 employ-

ees of the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

(MFA) of the Repub-

lic of Tajikistan upon

request of MFA.

It was the first time RCST conducted such kind of lectures for the rep-

resentatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event took place

during the “Month of the Red Crescent” and was also the opportunity

for the National Society to present its activities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross presented the following

subjects: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Inter-

national Committee of the Red Cross - activities in the world and in

Tajikistan, Introduction into Contemporary International Humanitari-

an Law (IHL).