An interim workshop on the implementation of the UNDP project on reducing risks and vulnerability from glacial lake outburst (GLOF) and mudflows in Kyrgyzstan was conducted by the Center

Due to climate change and melting glaciers, high-altitude lake outbursts pose a serious threat to the human security in Kyrgyzstan. The list of breakthrough lakes in Kyrgyzstan for 2022 includes 320 lakes, most of which are located in glacial zones.

On June 21, 2023, a Letter of Agreement was signed between the UNDP and the CESDRR on the implementation of a UNDP project funded by the Government of Japan to strengthen the potential for monitoring and forecasting natural disasters associated with outburst lakes and mudflows.

As part of the agreement, on August 25, 2023, an interim workshop was held in Bishkek on the implementation of the project “Reducing risks and vulnerability from outburst of glacial lakes (GLOF) and mudflows in Kyrgyzstan by strengthening the national disaster monitoring system and the adaptive capacity of communities”.

The interim workshop was attended by the representatives of the UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, the State Cartographic and Geodetic Service, the Institute of water problems and hydropower of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences (CAIAG) and international organizations.

Monica Rizal, Acting UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, in her welcoming speech, noted the commitment of the Japanese government to projects in disaster risk reduction. She noted that “… with the assistance of the Government of Japan, within the framework of the project “Strengthening capacity for integrated risk management of the Kyrgyz Republic and regional cooperation in Central Asia” a Unified information system for Integrated Monitoring and forecasting of disasters - OKSION and 112 Service was created and the result of this project will contribute increasing the potential of the Unified system for comprehensive monitoring of predicting emergencies in the Kyrgyz Republic.

In turn, the First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic Azamat Mambetov share with the participants of the workshop the main results of the ministry's activities to strengthen the "Unified system for monitoring and forecasting disasters". He also emphasized the importance of the expected results of the project.

During the interim workshop, the experts of the Center presented:

• The main goals and objectives of the project, as well as planned activities.
• Tasks and goals in the development of the National concept for the development of the Unified system for comprehensive monitoring of forecasting emergency situations in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Outburst lakes of Kyrgyzstan and the history of their study.
• Spatial data analysis and assessment in the system of monitoring and forecasting GLOF and mudflows.
• Engineering-geological conditions and selection of pilot valleys.
• Pre-project survey of information systems for monitoring breakthrough lakes under the USCMFES.
• Recommendations for upgrading the system and a description of the functionality of the proposed subsystems.
• Solutions for the development of software modules for the information system for monitoring outburst lakes USCMFES.

Also, during the workshop, Dr. Ikeda Makoto, Senior researcher of the Asian disaster reduction center (ADRC) online introduced the participants of the seminar about the ADRC’s activities in monitoring and forecasting natural disasters associated with outburst lakes and mudflows.

In general, the participants noted the importance of the activities envisaged in the project to strengthen the national disaster monitoring system.