DUSHANBE, February 14, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society plans to provide assistance to elderly people affected by ongoing energy crisis and severe electricity shortages, Madina Sayfiddinova, RCS information officer, told Asia-Plus on Thursday.   

According to her, RCS specialists have assessed their needs resulted from unusually cold weather and electricity shortages.  

“During a week, our specialists monitored the situation in the regions and revealed the most vulnerable categories, and providing assistance to elderly people remains one of priorities of the Society’s activity,” Davlat Alinazarov, the head of the RCS emergency management department, said.  

At present it is planned to provide assistance to 2,149 elderly people in Dushanbe, Qurghon Teppa, Vahdat, and Somoniyon in the Rudaki district.  

RCS jointly with the Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Tajikistan plans to distribute thermoses, candles, flashlights, and socks for a total amount of $120,000, the information officer said.  According to her, they in cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross will also distribute food products to those people.