Results of the Regional Forum - Meeting of the Heads of Emergency Authorities of Central Asian countries

The regular Regional Forum - Meeting of the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries was held in Tashkent.

This high-level event took place on November 4-5, 2021 as part of the UNDRR initiative “Building disaster resilience and accelerating the implementation of Sendai framework for DRR in Central Asia” funded by the European Union.

More than 50 people took part in the Regional Forum - delegations led by the heads of emergency authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of UN agencies, donor, international and non-governmental organizations.

During the Regional Forum, the following documents were discussed and approved:

• Strategy for the development of cooperation between Central Asian countries in DRR for 2022-2030.
• Regional disaster risk profile in Central Asia.
• Regulation "On the Regional mechanism for coordination of emergency response".
• An Action plan (roadmap) for the implementation of the Strategy for the development of cooperation between Central Asian countries in DRR for 2022-2023.
• The concept of the use of unmanned aircraft for the purpose of disaster risk reduction, prevention and response to emergencies in Central Asian countries.

During the discussion of the program of the Regional Forum, the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries made decisions:

1. Implementation of the Strategy for the development of cooperation between Central Asian countries in DRR for 2022-2030 should be carried out on the basis of phased Action Plans (Road Maps).
2. The creation and implementation of measures to organize activities of the Regional coordination mechanism for emergency response shall be entrusted to CESDRR - the Secretariat of the Regional Forum - Meeting of the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries.
3. To support the initiative of the CESDRR - the Secretariat of the Regional Forum - Meeting of the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries for development and presentation to stakeholders on a regular basis the Regional disaster risk profile of Central Asian countries.
4. By the end of November 2021, consider and submit to CESDRR- the Secretariat of the Regional Forum - Meeting of the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries proposals on the creation of a regional early warning system about the threat and occurrence of emergencies.
5. Take note of the information presented and provide all possible assistance in the implementation of regional initiatives, programs and projects in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, implemented by UN agencies, donor, international and non-governmental organizations.

The Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries noted the relevance of the issues submitted to the Regional Forum, the need to use innovative information and communication technologies in disaster risk reduction.

In his speech, the Minister for emergency situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, major general Yuriy Ilin drew the attention of the participants of the Regional Forum to the need to develop an early warning system in case of an earthquake, which ultimately will allow to combine scientific potential and practical actions to develop a network of seismic sensors for early warning of the population in the territory Central Asia.

The Minister of emergency situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Bobek Azhikeev, noted the importance of coordinating the activities of emergency authorities of the countries of the region, international and non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties in carrying out a humanitarian operation in case of emergencies of a transboundary nature.

In turn, the Chairman of the Committee for emergency situations and civil defense under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, colonel-general Nazarzoda Rustam noted that the adopted documents are comprehensively worked out, they will certainly play an important role in strengthening cooperation between emergency authorities of Central Asian countries in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Head of the political and press information department of the European Union Mr. Mindaugas Kacerauskis highly appreciated the organization of the event and the hospitality of the host country, and also emphasized the importance of cooperation between Central Asian countries and heads of authorities responsible for disaster prevention.

The Head of the UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Mr. Octavian Bivol noted the importance of the Regional Forum in the further implementation of the Strategy for the development of cooperation of Central Asian countries in DRR for 2022-2030.

During the Regional Forum, representatives of the World Bank, UN Office for DRR, UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, MapAction, I2NIK and others made briefings on the implementation of regional programs and projects in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and emergency situations.

In their speeches, they noted the importance of the Regional Forum in strengthening cooperation between the emergency authorities of Central Asian countries.

The Heads of emergency authorities and participants of the Regional Forum expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the warm hospitality, organization and holding the Regional Forum -Meeting of the Heads of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries and the European Union, the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Office for the technical and financial support of measures to strengthen regional cooperation of emergency authorities of Central Asian countries in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, prevention and response to emergency situations.

Following the results of the Regional Forum, the parties signed a protocol and decided to hold the next Regional Forum in 2022 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan.