LocationsUNDP Enhances Makhallas Residents' Preparedness for Natural Disasters in High-Risk Areas
August 1, 2024
The UN Development Programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and with financial support from the Green Climate Fund, has trained over 200 active residents from 15 makhallas across seven regions of Uzbekistan on how to act before, during, and after emergencies.
As a follow-up, local response plans were developed for the makhallas that help organize the evacuation of local residents and provide first aid, thereby reducing disaster risks and mitigating the effects.
Uzbekistan ranks high (24th) in the global natural disaster hotspots list compiled by the World Bank, with 9.3% of the total country area at risk, 65.6% of the population living in risk exposed areas, and 65.5% national GDP generated from areas at risk. Climate change-induced hazards cause loss of lives and significant economic damages. Early warning of potential disasters and effective public response are key to mitigating the negative effects of emergencies.
The conducted training on planning and disaster preparedness at the community level aimed to reduce risks and consequences of emergencies by improving community readiness for natural disasters. Participants learned the procedures for various natural disasters, including mudflows, flooding, avalanches, landslides, and earthquakes. They formed special groups, defined their functional responsibilities, and worked with the Ministry of Emergency Situations to develop local response plans.
“The training session brought back memories of mudflows that occurred in our makhalla in the 1970s and 1980s. We didn't know how to react. But during the training, we learned how to correctly response to mudflows, where to go and what to do,”
shared Maysara Rajaboeva, a resident of the Kumushkan makhalla in the Parkent district of Tashkent region. Her makhalla is located in an area prone to mudflows and landslides.
“I realise how important it is to share the information I've received with others, particularly young people. As an entrepreneur, I frequently interact with residents of our makhalla and will try convey what I've learnt today,” added Maysara Rajaboeva
In addition to Tashkent region, training sessions were also held in Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Namangan, and Fergana regions.
The training sessions are part of a comprehensive UNDP effort to improve the early warning system and enhance the resilience of Uzbekistan’s population to hazardous natural disasters.
The project “Enhancing Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to increase resilience of Uzbekistan communities to climate change-induced hazards” is a joint effort of UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Uzhydromet, funded by the Green Climate Fund. The project is designed to ensure modernization of the country’s early warning system into an impact-based MHEWS with the focus on floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches and hydrological drought in the more populous and economically important mountainous regions of Uzbekistan.