The Kazakhstani Agency for Emergency Situations is the main agency dealing with extraordinary situations that threaten the country, particularly earthquakes and floods. The Agency, created in 1995, has come a long way since its inception. It oversees approximately 20,000 civil defense personnel and has been increasing its capacity regarding emergency prevention and preparedness. It has carried out extensive training for citizens of Almaty, particularly in earthquake preparedness. The international community, both the private sector and the diplomatic corps, have also received such training.

Over the past year, the Agency has worked with the United Nations Development Program to devise a natural disaster preparedness plan for Kazakhstan, largely concentrating on earthquakes. Almaty was destroyed by earthquakes three times in the late 1800s and earlier last century. All were over 7.0 on the Richter scale. Seven national experts, each specializing in preparedness, response, transport and communications, have developed the preparedness plan in collaboration with UNDP consultants and the participation of relevant ministries and NGOs in two working seminars that have ensured an open process.

In early April in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, the third seminar in the series will take place. At that time, the preparedness plan will be presented to the Kazakhstan government for its review. Based on the small changes expected, it will be forwarded soon after to the Kazakhstan government for approval. Before this seminar, the national experts, with experts from the USA, NATO, Japan, UN OCHA, and Switzerland, will consult and draw on a "best practices" approach and create priority projects concerning preparedness to be submitted to the Kazakhstan government and the international community for funding.

The expertise coming from these countries and organizations will allow Kazakhstan to benefit from a wealth of experience. With this plan in place and its implementation as the next step through the priority projects, Kazakhstan will have set an example to follow for many countries in the region that are severely threatened by natural disasters, but short of cash in their transition to the market economy.

Richard Dion, Program Officer, United Nations Development Program