Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Feb. 12, 2008 - CARE is distributing coal, food and warm clothing in the early phase of its emergency response to orphanages and nurseries in the hardest-hit areas of Tajikistan, as they struggle to survive the severe winter and power blackouts that have left millions in Tajikistan without heat or electricity.

"Orphanages in Tajikistan don't have the resources to deal with this kind of crisis," said Sylvia Francis, Assistant Country Director for CARE in Tajikistan. "They operate in difficult conditions due to scarcity of light, heating, and food. These are institutions with limited budgets. The orphans do not have enough to eat, and they are crowded together just to keep from freezing. The institutions look forward to receiving whatever donations they can get."

A severe energy crisis combined with the harshest winter in 30 years has left millions of people in Tajikistan without heat or water in temperatures that dropped to -20C at night in the past weeks. The government of Tajikistan appealed for international aid last week, and electricity is being rationed.

More than 50 per cent of the population had already been suffering chronic food shortages before the severe weather and electricity crisis hit, and the current situation has driven up the price of food. Many families are already down to one meal a day, and are selling what meager resources they have just to buy fuel to heat their homes.

CARE is distributing food, warm clothing, heating stoves, fuel and other emergency supplies to more than 17,000 vulnerable people in Dushanbe, Yovon, Vahdat, and Varzob districts. CARE will also provide basic health services through mobile health clinics to remote communities. CARE is appealing to donors for additional funds to expand the emergency response in the coming days.

Before the crisis hit, CARE had already been working to meet the food needs of the most vulnerable people in Tajikistan, distributing food to 12,000 students and 4,400 pregnant and lactating women as part of a multi-agency food distribution program. CARE is coordinating closely with other aid groups, UN agencies and local governments to respond to the current crisis. -30-

Media Contact: Melanie Brooks, mbrooks@care.org, mobile: +66.(0).81.915.8108

About CARE: CARE is one of the world's largest independent aid organizations providing emergency relief and development projects in 69 countries around the world. CARE has worked in Tajikistan since 1994, implementing projects in food security, disaster mitigation, basic and reproductive health, agriculture and livelihood security, water and sanitation, and small income generation activities.