DUSHANBE, July 8, 2016, Asia-Plus – Issues related to further expansion of bilateral cooperation in reducing disaster risks were in the focus of a meeting of Lieutenant-General Rustam Nazarzoda, Head of the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CES) under the Government of Tajikistan with Mr. Karl Goeppert, Caritas Country Director for Tajikistan that took place here on July 7, according to the CES.

Orif Nozimov, a spokesman for the CES,  says, the two discussed issues related to creation of an international center for training and retraining of rescuers of Afghanistan and neighboring countries at the CES Training Center, exchange of experience, and construction of food warehouses for Afghans in Tajik border areas in case of emergency situations in Afghanistan.

Nazarzoda reportedly appreciated Caritas’s support for mitigation of effects of natural disasters in Tajikistan and briefed Mr. Goeppert on measures taken by the government of Tajikistan to mitigate effects of natural disasters that hit the country in 2015 and 2016.

Head of Caritas Switzerland Tajikistan noted that they will continue providing support to Tajikistan to reduce disaster risks and strengthen the CES potential, Nozimov said.

Founded in 1901 with its headquarters in Lucerne, Caritas Switzerland is a Swiss NGO.  Caritas assists people in need in more than 50 countries abroad as well as in Switzerland. Caritas does its own fundraising, mostly through donations from people or private institutions and is supported by the Swiss government. Caritas is involved in implementing a number of development and disaster preparedness/prevention projects in all over the world.  Caritas Switzerland in Tajikistan is active since 1994.  In partnership with Caritas Luxembourg and Caritas Germany, Caritas Switzerland opened a regional office in Dushanbe.

In Tajikistan Caritas Switzerland has its focus on projects related to secure livelihoods (community development, community based water supply and local governance), disaster preparedness and prevention (water related disasters), social justice and emergency situations and works according to the rights based approach and puts actors and their initiatives first.