Central Asian countries to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk reduction

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter – UNESCO) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan will hold a session on early warning and disaster risk reduction in Central Asia within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (hereinafter – RES), which will take place in Astana on 22–24 April. During the event, equipment will be officially handed over to national emergency authorities, which will help improve early warning systems.

The high-level session entitled “Cooperation on Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia” will be held on 24 April. The event, organized within the framework of the project “Reducing the Vulnerability of Populations in the Central Asian Region to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods under Climate Change Conditions” (GLOFCA), will bring together representatives of government bodies of the countries of the region, international organizations, and experts.

In Central Asia, against the backdrop of glacier retreat, the number of glacial lakes is increasing, which in turn raises the risk of glacial lake outburst floods. Such events pose a threat to populations, infrastructure, and economic activity both in mountainous areas and in river valleys downstream. Under these conditions, early warning systems (EWS) and community-level risk reduction measures are of particular importance.

During the session, practical results of the GLOFCA project will be presented, including the introduction of early warning systems in pilot territories, monitoring of glacial lakes, and community-based risk reduction measures.

The purpose of the event is to promote the exchange of practical experience and effective approaches in disaster risk reduction among the countries of the region, as well as to strengthen the institutional sustainability of the results achieved by enhancing national ownership and coordination.

It is expected that, within the framework of the session, equipment will be officially handed over to national emergency authorities, including components of monitoring and early warning systems, which will ensure the continued functioning of EWS.