Agency for Emergency Situations of theRepublic of Kazakhstan
Country Report
CONTENTS
1. Introduction *2. Natural Hazard Assessment *3. State management in emergency situations *4. Measures for the Reduction of Danger of Natural Disasters *4.1. Emergency Planning *4.2. Training of Specialists and the General Population *4.3. Prevention of Emergency Situations *5. International cooperation on Reduction of Natural Disaster Effects *6. Conclusion *1. Introduction
The Republic of Kazakhstan is a sovereign state located in Central Asia. With an area of2,717,300 sq. km, it is the ninth largest country (in area) in the world. The Republic is locatedbetween 40°56’ and 55°26’ latitude’ north and 45°27 and 87°18’ longitude east. Kazakhstan
borders the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Khyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and China. The total
length of the Republic’s national border is 15,000 km. The population of Kazakhstan isapproximately 15.8 million. The capital is Astana.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government.
Nursultan Nazarbayev is the President of Kazakhstan. The Republic of Kazakhstan has aNational Governmental structure with a 2 chamber Parliament.

2. Natural Hazard Assessment
The natural features of Kazakhstan include the high mountains of the Tien Shan and Altai,extensive lowlands and plains, deserts, forests, large rivers and reservoirs, including theinternal Caspian and Aral Seas. They contribute to several different threats of natural

disasters. The wide spectrum of potentially dangerous natural phenomena characteristic toKazakhstan includes:a) Earthquake;b) Debris flows:c) Hoods (including seasonal flash flooding);d) Snow avalanches;
e. Forest and steppe fires.

In the south and southeastern areas of Kazakhstan there are 27 cities and more than 400
occupied settlements. These areas comprise more than 40 % of the industrial potential of thecountry. Approximately 6 million people, (more than one third of the country’s population) live
here. In the last century, earthquakes have repeatedly been reported, some greater than force 8
on the Richter scale. In these areas the most powerful earthquakes were: Vernoye (1887,magnitude = 7.3), Chilik (1889, = 8.3), Kemin (1911, = 8.2), Zaisan (1990, = 6.3), Baisorum(1991, = 6.5) and Tekely (1993, = 7.3).
Owing to intensive development of the economy, the increase in potentially dangerous
processes and materials and the concentration of the population in seismic risk areas,
the potential damage from strong earthquakes has increased drastically. The Agency
for Emergencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan estimated that in the case of amagnitude 9 Richter earthquake in Almaty with its population of 1,350,000 people,
that the total number of people injured or affected would be 300,000. Of these, some
75,000 people would likely be killed. Approximately one third of all residentialbuildings in Almaty would be destroyed.

Among the wide spectrum of dangerous natural phenomena characteristic of Kazakhstan, debris
flows are some of the most serious in both scale and consequences. These drastic events haverepeatedly struck the south-eastern region of the country for last 45 years. In the mountainous
areas of Kazakhstan there are: 2,720 glaciers, 5,140 debris catchment areas, more than 300
debris basins, and over 500 dangerous glacial lakes. Many debris flows have resulted insignificant destruction and loss of human life.
The direct material damage from even one of these debris flows can exceed tens of
millions of dollars (US). As a rule, these debris flows result in drastic damage to theenvironment and its flora and fauna. They also interfere with effective developmentof mountainous areas.

Significant annual losses are also connected to the following dangerous hydro- meteorologicalphenomena: floods, seasonal flash floods, downpours, thunder-storms, heavy snows, heavy frost,
ice, severe wind storms, and droughts. The entire territory of Kazakhstan is exposed to these
phenomena. However, the plains of the central and northern territories are at greatest risk.

A dangerous situation develops annually on the coast of the Caspian Sea. This occurs when highwinds cause waves of heights up to 2.5-2.7 meters. Low territories are exposed to flooding for
distances up to 20-25 km from the sea. This results in the breaking of protective dams andlevees of petroleum storage areas, isolation of settlements, and damage to communications. The
threat of this type of flooding has grown with the drastic rise of the level of the Caspian sea.
This has aggravated the detrimental effects of wind-induced surges and spring flash floods.

Among the various hazards experienced in 1998 there were 5,907 emergencies, in which 11,707
persons have suffered. Loss of life totaled 1,341 persons. The material damage was estimated at
25 million dollars. 2,825 persons have suffered from snow avalanches, spring and flash flooding,high water, and severe wind storms. The actual material damage is estimated at 23.1 million
dollars. 1,006 forest fires have resulted in damage of 9 million dollars. 16,300 hectares of forest
land has been destroyed. 70,000 hectares of steppe lands have also been burned.

3. State management in emergency situations
The legal foundation in the field of emergency management of natural disasters in the Republicof Kazakhstan is based on ratified international agreements and contracts, the Constitution,
Decrees of the President, and Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted in recent years.
Among these laws are: “Law on Civil Defense “ “Law on Emergency Situations of a Natural andTechnological Character”, “Law on Fire Safety “, ”Law on the Emergency Rescue Services andthe Status of Rescuers”, ”Law on the National Safety in the Republic Kazakhstan“, ”Law on theHealth and (Epidemiological) Welfare of the Population“, ”Law on the Legal Regime of Martial
Law” etc.

The state management of the protection of the population, territories and enterprises fromemergencies is carried out on a multilevel basis, beginning with the highest official in the state the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - down to the structures and organizations of thelower levels. The interaction of Government, central and local executive bodies, and otherorganizations is carried out within the framework of the overall state system for the prevention
and reduction of emergency situations.

The Prime Minister heads the civil defense of the country. The direct management of activities
by state bodies in emergency situations is assigned to the Chairman of the Agency for
Emergencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Agency for Emergencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the central management body
responsible for prevention and reduction of the consequences of natural disasters. Among itsbasic functions are:・ Development of proposals and implementation of the state policy in the field of protection ofthe population and territories from natural disasters;
・ Maintenance and operation of the state system for prevention and response to emergencies;
・ Coordination of actions of central and local executive bodies in the field of prevention andreduction of the consequences of natural disasters;
・ Emergency civil planning;・ Training of the general population, officials of bodies of management, administrative boardsof all levels, and emergency rescue formations in the steps to be taken in emergency situations;・ Realization of international cooperation, integration of the national system of civil protection
with the relevant international structures;
・ Realization of a system of measures to reduce the danger of natural hazards preparation forand response to emergencies;
・ Operative management of the activities of the emergency rescue services;

・ Coordination of activities, control and maintenance of readiness of monitoring systems,
communications and warning, Republican automated emergency information management
system;・ Warning of the general population of emergencies;
・ Organization and implementation of research on the problems of protection of the populationand territories from emergency situations.
・State expert-appraisal of compliance of construction projects and town-planningdocumentation as a part of the requirement for civil protection;
・ Facilitation of humanitarian operations and the coordination of international humanitarianassistance.

The Agency for Emergencies has local bodies at the Oblast, Region and City levels. These arethe: Oblast, Regional and City Departments, Civil Defense and military divisions, Centre for
Emergency Medicine, Republican Emergency Rescue Unit, Republican Fire-Prevention andAnti-Debris Flow Service, training and information centers, the Water Rescue Service, the State
Inspection of Prevention and Reduction of Emergencies, Territorial Emergency Rescue
Formations, and also other enterprises and organizations. The total staff of the Agency isapproximately 20 thousand.

All of the following bodies operate under the aegis of the Agency. They include:
Interdepartmental State Commission for the Prevention and Reduction of Emergency
Situations, Interdepartmental Commission for the Provision of Safety of Road Transportation,
The Republican Epidemiological Emergency Commission, and the Scientific and TechnicalCouncil.

4. Measures for the Reduction of Danger of Natural DisastersIn Kazakhstan, activities in the field of danger reduction from natural disasters are carried out
according to the basic principles and tasks set forth by the international community within theframework of the UN’s International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). In theRepublic, a national IDNDR committee has been created and is headed by the Chairman ofAgency for Emergencies. Its basic purpose is to implement internationally agreed principles tomitigate the effects of natural disasters and to improve the stability of the economy and society
at the local and national levels.

4.1. Emergency Planning
Emergency planning issues are under the constant attention of the Agency for Emergencies andthe Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The key laws and other regulatory legal acts
adopted by the Republic in recent years form the basis for the implementation of emergency
planning for natural disasters. Plans for response and reduction of consequences are developed
for different types and scales of disaster events.

The plans for interaction with central executive bodies, and civil-military cooperation on theissues of response to emergencies are also developed.

Interested Ministries, Departments and central executive bodies carry out their planning within
the framework of the overall plan of Civil Defense.

Planning of integrated actions of national Civil Defense forces within the framework of theCorps of the CIS countries is jointly conducted.

With the support of UNDP and with the participation of international experts, The Agency forEmergencies has begun working on a comprehensive Kazakhstan Natural Disaster
Preparedness Plan. The project’s goal is to eliminate existing gaps in emergency planning at thenational level.

4.2. Training of Specialists and the General Population
Special attention is paid within the overall system of measures on reduction of danger,prevention and reduction of consequences of natural disasters in Kazakhstan to the training of
the general population in actions required during emergency events. Dissemination of
information and awareness about natural hazards specific to particular regions of the country is
also being carried out. Training and re-training of emergency management staff and associatedpersonnel is also conducted.

The Republic’s 27 training centers have trained more than 50 thousand trainees annually.
Among these people are officials from different levels.

Practical instruction and realistic exercises form the basis of Civil Defense training. The maineffort has been directed towards the preparation of rescue, engineering, reconnaissance, andother specialized formations. Training has focused on practical actions to be taken in the eventof emergencies.

For the training of school children and students in different institutes, a special course wasdesigned. It is called” Protection of Critical Life Support” Specialized schools and colleges follow
another course called “Basics of Life Support”.

The mass media is actively involved in the training of the population. Hundreds ofannouncements and short topical advisories are presented by specialists from the Agency onradio and TV annually. Ongoing dialogue with the population is carried out through booklets,videofilms and pamphlets.

Specialized training is conducted for headquarters staff. Also military training and exercises areongoing. These measures are undertaken to train the emergency rescue teams and other relatedpersonnel.

4.3. Prevention of Emergency Situations
One of the most important directions of the Agency for Emergencies is the implementation of
preventive engineering measures. All of these measures are directed towards the protection of
the population and territories from natural disasters and the reduction of their consequences.

A unique complex of anti-debris flow protection structures has been created in Almaty City andOblast. The total cost of the complex is in excess of 200 million US dollars. This complex
includes large debris barriers, channel stabilization and sandcheck dams for debris flows and seasonal flooding.

Reinforcement and protection of river banks in flood-prone regions of the country have been
carried out. The complex of debris flow control structures is located in Almaty and Eastern
Kazakh Oblasts.

Methods for coping with debris flows have been developed and realized in the mountainous
areas of Kazakhstan. Snow avalanches are prevented by placement of tactical explosive charges.

Systems of warning and observation of debris flows, avalanches, seasonal flash flooding, andflooding are ongoing. Monitoring of seismic activity is also routinely carried out.

The state program for the seismic reinforcement of buildings and other structures in cities andsettlements located in seismic zones has been implemented. New building norms and rules ofconstruction in seismic zones are developed.

The modernization and improvement of the structure of the Emergency Rescue Service is being
carried out.

5. International cooperation on Reduction of Natural Disaster Effects
The internationally recognized basis for international cooperation on the reduction of natural
disaster effects and provision of assistance in case of emergencies, is defined by the followinginternational agreements which are in force in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (as ofNovember, 1998):a) Intergovernmental agreement on interaction in the field of the prevention andreduction of consequences of natural and technological disasters- participants of CIS
countries (Minsk, 1993)b) Agreement on cooperation and interaction in the field of study of earthquakes andforecasting of seismic danger of the countries of the CIS (Moscow. 1993).
c) Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Khyrgyz
Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation and interaction in the field of
research on earthquakes and forecasting of seismic danger. (Bishkek, 1995).
d) Agreement on interaction of the states - participants of the Commonwealth of theIndependent States in case of evacuation of their citizens from third countries in theevent of the occurrence of natural disasters. (Moscow, 1996).
e) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and theGovernment of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of prevention ofindustrial failures, accidents, acts of nature and the reduction of their consequences.
(Moscow, 1994).

f) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and theGovernment of Georgia on cooperation in the field of the prevention of industrial
failures, acts of nature and reduction of their consequences (Almaty, 1997).

Kazakhstan enjoys the rights and privileges of full membership in the International
Organization of Civil Defense (IOCD). With these rights, Kazakhstan actively develops
international relationships. Kazakhstan joined the IOCD in 1996. The Law of the Republic ofKazakhstan ratified this decision in October, 1997). The representatives from Kazakhstan
participated in the 12th and 13th sessions of the General Assembly of the IOCD. They were heldin 1997 in Moscow and in Beijing in 1998.

After signing the framework document of NATO in 1994, Kazakhstan has become a country partner of NATO and a participant of the Program “Partnership for Peace” According to the newstrategy of NATO in the field of civil-military planning and cooperation in emergency situations,active bilateral contacts within the framework of the general program have been made. In 1997
the protocol on cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the UnitedStates (FEMA) was signed. The working program of partnership between Kazakhstan and USA
has been developed and is now being realized with participation of the USA through theNational Guard of the State of Arizona, and from Kazakhstan by the Agency for Emergencies.

6. Conclusion
Taking into account its geography, natural conditions, and presence of a wide spectrum ofnatural hazards in the territory of Kazakhstan, the reduction of natural disasters and theirconsequences is an important priority in the strategy and policy of the Government of theRepublic of Kazakhstan.