Following heavy snowfall over the last few days, over 50 avalanches have hit the Badakhshan regions of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, says press release issued by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) on February 15.

Multiple casualties have been reported so far and around 20 buildings and houses have been damaged or buried in the provincial capital Khorog as well as surrounding villages.

Building on its long-standing collaboration in disaster response, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) mobilized quickly to respond to the urgent request from the Government of Tajikistan, deploying trained teams to conduct search and rescue operations.

With heavy snowfall continuing, AKAH is helping relocate people from at risk areas and providing temporary shelter for those displaced.

AKDN is also providing fuel to district authorities to support local ambulance services and is clearing roads blocked by the avalanches.

AKDN’s Pamir Energy is working to repair damage to power lines and resume energy services in affected towns as soon as possible.