A three-day National workshop on early warning of emergencies has concluded in Kyrgyzstan. The topic is more relevant than ever. After all, global warming has affected the Central Asian region, including high-mountain Kyrgyzstan. More and more often we started to face such natural elements as mudslides, landslides, avalanches, rockfalls, floods, including uranium heritage and gold mining. The event was organized by Bir Duino with the participation of civil activists, in partnership with the international network GNDR (Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction), the Ombudsman Institute, government agencies, representatives of the expert community, environmentalists, the business community and international organizations.

According to the opinion and assessment of the participants, the National Workshop was a unique dialogue platform between the authorities and civil society, an important step in promoting an inclusive approach to localization of early warning and disaster risk reduction in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The goal of the workshop was to develop a dialogue between GNDR members, CSOs and government representatives to jointly develop and localize disaster risk reduction strategies, improve coordination at all levels, promote human rights and environmental standards in the context of growing climatic and social challenges.

The participants discussed the most important results of the international research Views from the Frontline (VFL), implemented by public organizations “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan”, “Our Century” and “Ensan Diamond” in partnership with GNDR in risk zones in Osh, Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2017-2019.

It is important to note that during 2022-2024, as a result of emergencies in Kyrgyzstan, more than 140,000 residents from local communities living in risk and disaster zones were displaced, at least 100 people died, more than 426 houses were destroyed, while additional damage affected 187 houses that required major reconstruction, damage was caused to 9 government buildings, 15 social facilities, 323 outbuildings, 81 businesses, various equipment and vehicles, more than 1 million children are at risk of potential disasters, and more than 1 million children are at risk of potential disasters. Due to the lack of trained dogs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is forced to turn to the private canine service “Ranger”, which has only 4 dogs for the whole country.

An important part of the program of the National Workshop was a SWOT analysis of the Unified System of Monitoring and Forecasting of Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic with the participation of experts and civil activists, especially from risk and disaster zones. During the three days, key barriers to collaboration were identified and concrete steps to improve and expand localization at the national level were proposed.

The workshop was attended by the Ombudsman Institute, representatives of the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Labor and Social Development, international organizations - UN OHCHR, UNDP, EU.

Special attention was paid to thematic sessions, including the block “Environmental Democracy and Security”, where expert Bermet Borubaeva and ecologist Vlad Ushakov presented an analysis of the environmental situation and discussed the state of civic space in the Kyrgyz Republic. Bermet Baryktabasova, an expert in evidence-based medicine and chairperson of the Medical Workers Union, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was not only a challenge for the health care system and the Kyrgyz Republic as a whole, but also a serious test of the situation with respect for the rights and dignity of doctors, who faced enormous workload, lack of protective equipment, moral and physical exhaustion, many of the medical workers died without receiving proper support from either the state or society. It was in times of crises and disasters that doctors realized the importance of unionization; trade unions played a key role in protecting doctors from undue pressure and dismissals, in issues of transparency and compensation.

A special session of the National Seminar focused on Community Voices from Risk and Disaster Zones: Mailuu Suu of Jalal-Abad oblast, Barskoon and Bokonbaevo of Issyk-Kul region.

During the group work, the participants developed a joint roadmap for improvement, modernization and efficiency of the early warning system of natural disasters based on the localization of National Action Plans, new training programs for LSGs, MTIs, local leaders and mass media using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, integration of regional and national platforms for more effective response to natural disasters, which will allow for timely informing citizens of the disaster.

As noted by the Director of the Department of Monitoring, Forecasting of Emergency Situations under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic Daurbek Sakyev, Kyrgyzstan actively participates in regional initiatives to develop early warning systems, recognizing the importance of transboundary cooperation in combating the effects of climate change. This includes sharing experience and innovations with other Central Asian countries to strengthen the region's resilience to climate challenges. These measures are aimed at creating a safer and more resilient environment for the population of Kyrgyzstan, especially in the face of the increasing intensity of natural disasters. It is important to note that the key outcome of the workshop was the development of a roadmap for action, which will be presented at the conference in Geneva “Global Platform on Risks and Disasters” in June this year.

As challenges, workshop participants noted that community gaps are closely linked to the right to citizen participation in decision-making at all levels of government, stakeholder engagement and equal access to information. There is a higher risk of social tensions and repression when local communities are not sufficiently informed about projects or national action plans for risk and disaster reduction, let alone early prevention, when they cannot safely and meaningfully participate, when their concerns are ignored or neglected, and when the right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous communities is not respected.

The climate of fear prevents affected communities from having a voice and participating in decision-making processes for donor-funded, development bank-funded projects. This in turn undermines project outcomes and hinders the achievement of intended development goals. For example, fear of reprisals can prevent mass media, local authorities, activists, human rights defenders from reporting suspicions of corruption or harmful environmental impact, which directly affects the activities of the authorities and development partners in achieving SDGs, Art. 17.

Deputy Ombudsman of KR Zhanibek Jorobaev called on all participants to unite in the Consortium to address existing challenges, strengthen the early warning system with focus on local, national and global levels, ensuring cross-sectoral partnership to achieve an inclusive goal:

“Leave No One Behind”.

If you have any questions, please contact Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan by Email: birduinokyrgyzstan@gmail.com and Tel: +996772163329.