Brusseles: The Center has presented its achievements in building disaster and climate change resilience
On 28 November 2022 under the auspices of His Excellency Mr. Margulan Baimukhan - Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium, Her Excellency Ms. Terhi Hakala - European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia and Her Excellency Ms. Mami Mizutori - Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction a high-level event was held to raise awareness of resilience to disasters and climate change in Central Asia.
The Deputy Director of the Center Mr. Serik Aubakirov has presented a report on achievements in building disaster and climate change resilience in Central Asia within the frame of the EU initiative “Strengthening disaster resilience and accelerating the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia”, implemented by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). It was noted, that activities, carried out within the initiative support the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR and SDGs by introducing an approach, that that moves from disaster management to risk management, as well as aimed at inclusiveness, safety and sustainability.
The report of the Center demonstrates the achievement of main initiative goals, including regional coordination, development of a regional DRR strategy, national disaster damage and loss tracking systems, disaster risk reduction at the community level, and the development of the strategy for making cities resilient at the local level.
In his welcome speech, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Belgium Mr. Baimukhan mentioned the direct impact of the climate change effects on the socio-economic development of CA countries and the need of further development of joint efforts and cooperation in DRR. Kazakhstan intends to continue demonstrating its leading position in this alliance.
In his speech, the Vice Minister for Emergency Situations Mr. M. Kuldikov announced the intention of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to further strengthen this important area of cooperation.
A number of working and technical meetings were held on the sidelines of this event.
Thus, within the frame of the panel session, a bilateral meeting was held between the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia Ms. Terhi Hakala and the Deputy Director of the Center Mr. S. Aubakirov.
Ms. Hakala highly appreciated the achievements of the Center, and also gave a positive assessment of the Center's role in the field of DRR in the Central Asian region. She also noted that what has been achieved has become possible only with the full support of the Government of Kazakhstan and its proactive and leading role in strengthening regional cooperation in DRR.
On 28 November a meeting was held with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Ms. Mami Mizutori and UNDRR team, led by Mr. Octavian Bivol, the Chief of the UN Regional Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Europe and Central Asia.
Ms. Mami Mizutori welcomed the ongoing joint work of the Center and UNDRR in the field of DRR in the region. In turn, Ms. Mizutori was additionally informed about the steps taken by the Center to create a Regional Early Warning System and mutual information on the disaster threat and occurrence.
On 29 November the delegation of the Center visited the EU Emergency Response Coordination Center, where a technical meeting with its representatives took place. The participants of the meeting got acquainted with the provision, structure and main activities of this center.
At all levels, the Center initiated a dialogue and started a discussion about the urgent need to create a similar European Emergency Response Coordination Center in Central Asia on the basis of the Emergency and DRR Center in Almaty.
