​Tajikistan​

The Pamir mountains of eastern Tajikistan are a stunning slice of the roof of the world, but rising temperatures have created a perilous geo-hazard for farmers and herders below. Melting glaciers and permafrost have already sparked disastrous mudflows that inundated entire villages. 30 per cent of Tajikistan’s glaciers have disappeared since 1965, forming hundreds of unstable new lakes that can suddenly burst into the steep walled valleys where people live.  But these hearty communities are now organizing to prepare for the worst. 

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Danger in the Pamirs

Geo-hazards caused by climate change are a big problem for high mountain communities living in the Pamirs of Tajikistan. To confront the danger, vulnerable communities trained by AKAH experts have organized their own disaster plans and emergency response teams.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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High Mountain Hazards

For generations glacial runoff has nurtured Pamir and Wakhan families.  But the life giving waters come with a steep price.


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On the Roof of the Worl​d

In the high cold desert of Murgab, Tajikistan life is harsh and it is getting harsher for local herders. Milk and meat from their yaks and sheep nourish their stomachs and their wool nourishes their souls. The herders are also artists, producing carpets, hats, and socks the way their ancestors did. But how long will their traditions survive, when the world is changing in front of their eyes, and the snows and glaciers disappear.

​Film by Khalilova Sayohat.​​​​​​​

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