US embassy cable - 05ALMATY756

UNCLAS ALMATY 000756 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AIDAC 
 
WASHDC FOR DCHA/OFDA, EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, KZ, ECONOMIC 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DECLARES COLD AND SNOW DISASTER IN 
KAZAKHSTAN 
 
1. Summary and Action Request:  Following severe storms 
that have led to a winter emergency in the south of 
Kazakhstan, Ambassador Ordway has declared a cold and snow 
disaster in three oblasts in Kazakhstan (Zhambyl Oblast, 
Karagandy Oblast and Southern Kazakhstan Oblast.)  The 
Ambassador and Acting USAID Regional Mission Director 
request that DCHA/OFDA immediately commit USD 25,000 to 
provide clothing, electric heaters, and window seals to 
mitigate the effects of extreme cold (minus 30 Celsius) 
and snow (over 2 meters) in the affected areas.  End 
Summary 
 
2. The Red Crescent Society reports that starting at the 
beginning of this month, on or about 2 February 2005, and 
continuing for approximately two weeks, the three oblasts 
experienced extraordinary amounts of snowfall coupled with 
unusually low temperatures.  Due to excessive snow (in 
some areas over two meters deep) and cold (up to minus 30 
degrees Celsius), roofs of buildings and houses have 
collapsed and central heating systems have failed, with 
the result of exposing people in these areas to 
hypothermia. 
 
3.  The Red Crescent Society estimates that over 700 
buildings have been damaged in the three oblasts.   More 
than 650 settlements or towns have been cut off from 
oblast centers as a result of the cold and snow.  The Red 
Crescent Society believes that over 60 percent of the 
population in Zhambyl Oblast has been adversely affected 
by the unusual weather patterns in February; 30 percent of 
the population of Southern Kazakhstan Oblast has similarly 
been affected; and over 70 percent of the town of 
Shakhtinsk in Karagandy Oblast has suffered from the sub- 
freezing cold and snow. Overall, the damage from this 
disaster is estimated to be approximately USD 32.8 million 
according to the Red Crescent Society. 
 
4. Local governments and branches of the Red Crescent 
Society have provided initial relief to those most 
severely affected by the snow and cold.   At this point, 
the resources of these organizations are becoming 
exhausted.  Yet there remain vulnerable members of these 
communities who still need assistance.  These include the 
elderly, large family households, families with children, 
and the handicapped or physically disabled.  At present, 
local governments and aid agencies cannot sufficiently 
address the immediate needs of these populations. 
 
5.  The governments of Zhambyl Oblast and the city of 
Shakhtinsk have appealed to the Red Crescent Society for 
assistance with this disaster.  During the week of 
February 14, the Ambassador Ordway made a trip to 
Shymkent, in the Southern Kazakhstan Oblast, one of the 
three areas affected by the extreme snow and cold.  He saw 
first-hand that the need is real and the emergency is a 
severe one. 
 
6.  The most immediate need is to provide warmth in the 
remaining structures where affected populations are 
sheltering.  The Embassy has been approached by the Red 
Crescent Society with a proposal to provide warm clothes 
and materials/equipment. The intended use of this disaster 
request will be to purchase the following items in order 
to provide immediate relief to an estimated 1,000 families 
(or approximately 3,560 people): 
 
1,000 sets of warm clothing 
500 electric space heaters 
1,000 units of window seals 
 
7.  The Embassy provided funding to the Red Crescent 
Society for a similar snow emergency in 1999.  Based on 
this experience, we are confident this non-governmental 
organization will efficiently render assistance to the 
population in these three, hard-hit oblasts.  The Mission 
requests approval of this request in an expedited manner 
so that our assistance can be provided on a timely basis 
to those most in need. 
 
Asquino 
 
 
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