21 August 2011 | 14:38

Joint emergency response center opened in Almaty

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan created a joint center for emergency response and disaster risk reduction, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports citing press-service of UN Development Program (UNDP). August 19 Kazakhstan Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Bozhko, Kyrgyzstan Minister of Emergency Situations Bolotbek Borbiyev and Head of Emergency Situations and State Defense Commission of Tajikistan Government Khaibullo Latipov signed the inter-government agreement in Almaty. “The goal of the center is to enhance regional cooperation and coordination of disaster risk reduction efforts and to increase the safety level of the residents of the Central Asian region,” the UNDP press-release states. The center was established as a result of cooperation between the countries’ ministries and authorities accountable for prevention and elimination of natural and industrial emergency situations, as well as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNDP, Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission (ECHO), UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The center is intended to enhance national platforms of the three countries on disaster risk reduction as per the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 initiated under the World Conference on Disaster Reduction. “One of the main goals of this program is to develop and improve the organization, mechanisms and opportunities for countering disasters and reduction of negative effects of emergency situations related to natural and industrial catastrophes,” the press-release states.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan created a joint center for emergency response and disaster risk reduction, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports citing press-service of UN Development Program (UNDP). August 19 Kazakhstan Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Bozhko, Kyrgyzstan Minister of Emergency Situations Bolotbek Borbiyev and Head of Emergency Situations and State Defense Commission of Tajikistan Government Khaibullo Latipov signed the inter-government agreement in Almaty. “The goal of the center is to enhance regional cooperation and coordination of disaster risk reduction efforts and to increase the safety level of the residents of the Central Asian region,” the UNDP press-release states. The center was established as a result of cooperation between the countries’ ministries and authorities accountable for prevention and elimination of natural and industrial emergency situations, as well as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNDP, Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission (ECHO), UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The center is intended to enhance national platforms of the three countries on disaster risk reduction as per the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 initiated under the World Conference on Disaster Reduction. “One of the main goals of this program is to develop and improve the organization, mechanisms and opportunities for countering disasters and reduction of negative effects of emergency situations related to natural and industrial catastrophes,” the press-release states.

Tajikistan Ministry of Emergency Situations Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Kazakh emergency situations disaster