OREANDA-NEWS. October 12, 2012. In Taldykorgan an introductory workshop of the project funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection - "DIPECHO VII: Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in South-East and East Kazakhstan" was held. The workshop was organized by Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan with support of the United Nations Development Program in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection supports relief activities for vulnerable people in crisis zones around the world. In 1996 European Commission launched a specific programme, DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness ECHO) dedicated to disaster preparedness.

Some regions in Kazakhstan, namely East and South-East Kazakhstan, are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Earthquakes, floods, mudslides and landslides are among the most frequent in those regions. Annual losses as a result of the natural and man-made catastrophes are 63 million USD. In order to lower the losses we need to implement certain initiatives aimed at disaster risk reduction. That is why early disaster preparedness and timely measures on mitigation of the consequences can considerably reduce vulnerabilities and improve people’s possibilities in how they respond to and cope with such incidents.

By carrying out risk assessments, taking measures on mitigation of the consequences and introducing successful international methodology into legal and regulatory base in disaster risk reduction, the project will promote improvement of preparedness of the population and governmental agencies to possible natural disasters in those regions.

During the workshop DIPECHO project and other projects aimed at disaster risk reduction presented the results of their work in the area of prevention and elimination of emergency situations, climate risk management and preparation of the population to natural disaster response.

Possible joint actions in the area of natural disaster risk reduction were discussed during the workshop, as well as the action plan for 2012-2013. Also the need to enhance inter-sector interaction was noted, including supporting and involving local executive bodies in activities on pilot project implementation.

"Works on natural disaster risk reduction will be performed at the national and regional level, and practical events will be organized with participation of population of Tekeli town in Almaty region and population living around Semey city, regions with high flood danger, and also population of the mountainous region not far from Ust-Kamenogorsk city. These events will promote further institutionalization and sustainable development of the system of disaster risk reduction in Kazakhstan" – said the Director of Department of Strategic Planning, Information and Analytical Work, Science and New Technology of Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of Project Management Committee, Mr. Syrym Gabbasov.

"DIPECHO VII: Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in South-East and East Kazakhstan" project was started in June 2012 and is funded by the Directorate General of European Commission on Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), UNDP in Kazakhstan and Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The project duration is 18 months. The project budget is 774 133 USD.