DUSHANBE, February 21, Asia-Plus  -- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in reply to the UN flash appeal will provide 676 000 USD as humanitarian aid to Tajikistan, which has been severely hit by the extremely low winter temperatures and an energy crisis, press release issue by the Netherlands Embassy in Kazakhstan said.

Funds provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands will be channelled through UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund).  The Netherlands funds will be used to support UNICEF’s activities for the Tajik people. These include provision of about a million people with drinking water and sanitary items. Activities aimed at protection, and curing diseases will cover 600 000 children of less than 5 years old.  Schools will be supplied with fuel, generators and non-food items.

In total UNICEF asked the international community for 2.5 million USD for its humanitarian work in Tajikistan.