Authorities in Tajikistan have relocated hundreds of families from areas vulnerable to natural disasters, continuing a multi-year effort to reduce risk to life and property.
Jamshed Kamolzoda, Head of the Main Directorate for Civil Protection and Territories under the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, outlined the scope of the relocation initiative, the primary threats identified, and the state resources allocated for disaster prevention.
According to Kamolzoda, 328 households were moved from high-risk zones in 2024-2025. Of these, 154 were relocated in 2024, and 174 followed in 2025. The relocations were carried out under the government-approved “Medium-Term Plan for the Organized Resettlement of Environmental Migrants for 2024-2026,” which mandates the annual resettlement of 175 households based on risk assessments.
Kamolzoda emphasized that the Committee annually conducts geological and engineering evaluations of vulnerable areas and develops corresponding risk-reduction measures in cooperation with other agencies. A central component of this effort remains the relocation of at-risk populations.
“Special working groups have been established under the Committee, comprising experts in engineering, geology, construction, and emergency response,” he said.
These groups inspect residential buildings and infrastructure on-site and issue recommendations grounded in technical and scientific analysis. Their findings form the basis for resettlement decisions.
The relocation program is part of the broader National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction for 2019-2034, which aims to minimize human and material losses, bolster preventative measures, and improve public preparedness for emergencies.
Mudslides, earthquakes, and avalanches are the most frequent natural disasters in Tajikistan, with earthquakes considered the most dangerous due to their potential scale. With 93% of the country’s territory classified as mountainous, the most at-risk regions include the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), the Rasht Valley, the Zeravshan Valley, and the mountainous areas of the Sughd Region.
In 2025 alone, the Committee recorded 287 emergency incidents across Tajikistan, 12 of
which were natural disasters. The total estimated damage exceeded $2.2 million.
