Norak, Tajikistan

Lenin statue in Norak

Norak is a district of the Khatlon region in the southwest of Tajikistan. Norak is a rural city of about 40,000 people located in spectacular mountains in both banks of beautiful river Vakhsh southeast of the capital city of Dushanbe. Established in 1960, this city is the site of the world’s highest hydro-electric dam which is the main supplier of electricity to the entire cities of Tajikistan. Norak’s green mountainous countryside and clean air, the blue-sky waters of the Vakhsh as well as the abundance of fruits and other gifts of nature make it an ever young park-city. Walking down the streets and shopping in local bazaar you can’t miss to learn local culture and tradition, the symbolic signs of passed soviet era and at the same time to see the immense affect of west stile developing environment.  

Norak district is situated in Khatlon region, the biggest and poorest region of five and home to a third of the country’s 7 million population. Around 85% of the Khatlon region is threatened by mudslides and 32% of the area is situated in the high mudslide risk zone. These natural disasters occur annually and over the last four years 40 homes have been destroyed and four people have lost their lives in Nurek.There are around 70 vulnerable families in Nurek living in the areas of high-risk of mudslide.

RELOCATING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES FROM LANDSLIDE PRONE SETTLEMENTS

Mudslide prone area in Norak

Norak building site

GV volunteers in Norak

The project is designed to relocate a group of 60 disadvantaged families living in high-risk mudslide prone areas of villages surrounding Norak by helping them to build new, safe, decent homes in non-risk area. Local government allocated land near Chal-Chal village to build homes for ‘at risk’ families. Back in 2006 Norak government contacted Habitat Tajikistan as it was unable to help families with construction. According to mutual agreement signed between Habitat Tajikistan and Norak government, Habitat would provide construction materials for families via loans and construction expertise while government would provide infrastructure – electricity, water and road. It was decided to implement the project through 3 phases helping 20 families in each. However, due to lack of government support the project is not finished. Only 40 homes are built, with 15 families moved into their new homes. 

Due to the inability (lack of funds) of local government to fulfill their part of contribution Habitat took an initiative to support the infrastructure provision. Currently infrastructure works are in process. According to the plan all 40 houses with access to infrastructure to be completed and families moved by mid September 2009.

Since 2006 to date Habitat Tajikistan hosted 9 Global Village teams with more than 100 international volunteers from different parts of the globe in Nurek district. Local and international volunteers participated in building of 21 houses for disadvantaged families.

 

For more information contact Habitat for Humainty Tajikstan Global Village Coordinator Farhod Nabiyulloev or visit Habitat for Humanity International website at www.habitat.org/gv