Project launched to improve disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response skills in Uzbek communities
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - 13 January 2009 APartnership between the Ministry of Emergencies of the Government of Uzbekistan and UNICEF was recently sealed to reduce the risk of disasters in vulnerable communities across nine disaster prone Uzbek provinces. 300 schools and 36 vulnerable communities will be better protected by joint Ministry of Emergency and UNICEF Uzbekistan preparedness programmes. The project will support local communities and institutions to proactively participate in better risk assessment, mitigation, and preparedness work, as well as testing and building potential responses to disasters. The project began in November 2008 and will run until the end of 2009.An amount of € 825,000 was provided by the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO), UNICEF is contributing € 234,000. The Uzbek project is part of a wider UNICEF efforts to support the most vulnerable communities across three Central Asian Republic’s; Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in preparing for and effectively responding to disasters. UNICEF Uzbekistan supports national education, health, and emergency Ministries to make solid contributions to disaster risk reduction activities in communities. The emphasis is on children and women in the nine most vulnerable Uzbek provinces. The project components include: advocacy for political commitment for DRR support at all levels; The outcome across the three Central Asian States will better prepared and better protected communities and women and children from natural disasters. More specifically, the Government’s disaster preparedness strategy will be improved in the area of education and the education sector itself will be better able to assist in local risk reduction and disaster preparedness and response initiatives. The best practices, tools and experiences in DRR in schools will be spread widely at all levels. Mr. Andro Shilakadze, UNICEF Deputy Representative, said, “UNICEF is delighted to work closely with Ministry of Emergency Situations. Protecting vulnerable communities and helping women and children help themselves is what UNICEF is all about”. Through this project, advocacy efforts will be undertaken by UNICEF Uzbekistan to integrate disaster risk reduction strategy into the overall national development agenda. For more information, please contact: Ms. Oyunsiahan Dendevnorov, Area-Based Program Manager - odendevnorov@unicef.org
|
