The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan have launched a regional project, “Strengthening the System for Region-Wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia.” The new project, within the framework of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, aims to enhance disaster resilience at both national and regional levels over two years, focusing on improving earthquake awareness across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in close cooperation with the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR), a regional disaster response and coordination hub, based in Almaty, UNDP Kazakhstan reported.
Yasumasa Iijima, Ambassador of Japan in Kazakhstan, and Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, signed the project partnership at a ceremony held in Astana.
Ambassador Iijima emphasized the importance of being aware of and ready for disaster risks: “Japan has developed expertise in disaster resilience over decades by learning lessons and working closely with municipalities and communities. Thus, it is an honor to support Central Asian countries in strengthening their disaster resilience.”
Central Asia has long been facing natural disasters, with average annual losses estimated at $10 billion and more than 3 million people affected. Earthquakes are a predominant risk factor in Central Asia, particularly in densely populated urban areas. The effects of seismic events in Central Asia are devastating, with the average annual economic losses of $2 billion, deaths and severe economic setbacks. Major disasters can damage local and shared infrastructure, displace populations across borders and challenge joint emergency management and recovery efforts.
The new regional project aims to strengthen regional coordination through the Regional Emergency Response Coordination mechanism, ensuring a more effective approach to preparedness, response and recovery during large-scale cross-border disasters. It will prioritize raising awareness of earthquake risks, fostering readiness to mitigate impacts and introducing innovative earthquake monitoring and alert systems, drawing from the practical experiences of Japan and other countries.
“Earthquakes remain one of the major disaster risks across Central Asia, and they know no borders. This new project will leverage existing collaborative mechanisms and transformational strategies to better prepare for, respond to and recover from large-scale cross-border disasters. It will contribute to national development and align with global resilience frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement,” said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
