The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are joining hands to protect communities living near uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan. On July 8, UNDP delivered three fully equipped computer workstations to the Department of Tailings under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, contributing to the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emergencies in radiation-prone zones.
This strategic contribution goes beyond a routine equipment handover. It marks a concrete step toward building a risk-informed, resilient Kyrgyzstan, where institutions are empowered with the tools, data, and technology to act swiftly in the face of disaster. The new equipment will improve real-time monitoring, data management, and coordination within emergency services, ensuring faster and more effective responses to potential threats posed by uranium tailings.
The initiative is part of the regional project “Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia – Phase III”, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the OSCE and funded by the European Commission. In Kyrgyzstan, the project focuses on three high-risk locations: Mailuu-Suu, Min-Kush, and Kyzyl-Jar, where radioactive and environmental hazards threaten both human health and ecological stability.
By investing in early warning systems, UNDP and the EU directly support Kyrgyzstan’s national priorities for emergency prevention and response, outlined in its Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to safeguarding lives, restoring contaminated environments, and building community-level resilience.
Further technical equipment is already in the pipeline as part of this project, aimed at reinforcing the operational readiness of first responders working in uranium-affected zones.
