Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (January 4, 2012) – In 2011 UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme helped to reconstruct five pedestrian bridges in three villages of Boz-Uchuk village district of Aksy district of Issyk-Kul province. For years these bridges/roads in the village had not been maintained and posed risks to the lives of people. A total of 7,5 km of internal roads in the Ichke-Jergez, Novo-Voznesovka and Enchilesh villages were renovated providing safe access for people to agricultural and pasture lands.
The village Boz-Uchuk is highly prone to different natural disasters such as earthquake, mudflow, landslide and avalanches. Two years ago villagers organized their own rescue team and established rescue points in a local school, which was equipped by UNDP. Currently, a horse group is being established for early warning and notification on mountain and forest fire hazards.
According to the leader of the rescue team, Taldyabay Jamanbaev, the fire department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations does not have the full capacity to provide full-scale and in time support in case of fire and thus the village rescuers should be able to take appropriate measures on early warning and preparedness. Currently, the UNDP is considering equipping the team with entrenching equipment, axes, hitchers, asbestos linen and fire extinguisher.
In 2012 UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme plans to conduct training on firefighting in mountainous and forest areas in cooperation with the state territorial fire departments and district level divisions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The training program will include early warning, search, transportation and first aid for affected.
In 2011 UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme implemented 20 small-scale mitigation projects in the most vulnerable communities of Kyrgyzstan. All projects were aimed at reducing the risks to natural disasters. Total cost of the projects implemented in six provinces of Kyrgyzstan, namely, in Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Chui, Issyk-Kul and Naryn was around 8.9 million KGS, of which contribution of UNDP was 4.2 million (47%). These projects benefited 49,000 people.
UNDP in partnership with the UNWFP implemented a number of public works activities in 2010: 70 projects through the “cash for work” and “food for work” programs. As a result, the projects helped restore 225 km of infrastructures, construct 2 pedestrian bridges and 4 automobile bridges. These projects benefited 38000 households.
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