"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 12,000 people need urgent assistance. The most urgent needs at this time are water and sanitation for 3,000 people taking shelter in displaced persons camps," she said.

Since early April, torrential rains, floods and landslides affected 40 residents of the 58 districts of the country, destroyed more than 150 peasant houses, several bridges over the river, as well as damaged hundreds of hectares of sown areas. Preliminary damage is estimated at US$700,000. Floods have already claimed the lives of 9 people, including three children.

Last week, OCHA provided US$120,000 for tents, household items and fuel for the delivery of clean water.

The first country which has rendered a humanitarian aid to Tajikistan was neighbor Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan sent humanitarian aid at over 1,400 tonnes, including food and construction materials via railway to eliminate consequences of the natural disaster.