KAZAKHSTANI.

Natural hazards in Kazakhstan

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Wind storm, slides, flood, epidemic, extreme temperature, earthquake,wild fires
1.2

Recent major disasters
year2005
2004
2003

dis_subset
Flood
Landslide
Earthquake

killed048
3

total_affected
25000
―
36626

dam (US '000s)
7662
―
―

Source: "EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Databasewww.em-dat.net - Universite Catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
Description of recent major disasters and response activities
In May 2003, the Zhambyl region was hit by an earthquake with amagnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale. The earthquake affected 43,300
people and brought devastation to housing and social infrastructure. The
consequences of the earthquake showed that neither people nor the local
administrative authorities, including medical centers, were prepared forsuch disasters. Civil society was not informed, not prepared and wasactively involved in rehabilitation of the area.
One of the lessons learnt during the recent earthquake was that the scaleof the disaster would have been less if the local population had beenadequately informed about the potential dangers of a catastrophic
earthquake and the measures needed to mitigate the possible effects.
Given that, according to expert forecasts, an earthquake with significant
destructive power could occur in the not-too-distant future, it isimportant for residents of the region to be prepared and equipped withthe skills and knowledge needed to overcome the consequence of such adisaster. Currently, national disaster preparedness measures are
inadequate since they fail to cover the majority of the population. In thiscontext, early preparedness, awareness and the mobilization of
non-governmental and community-based organizations - as well as local
communities themselves - is indispensable for higher improved humansafety and security."
Activities for recovery and reconstruction after major disasters
Flooding in east Kazakhstan in May 2001 lasted for more than one month,affecting 4,500 people and damaging roads and infrastructure in 28

settlements spread over 8 rayons in the east Kazakhstan andSemipalatinsk oblasts of the country. The National Society of Kazakhstan
responded by providing immediate support to flood victims in the form offood, detergents, bedding and other essential supplies during theemergency response phase of the operation. Preliminary assessments
indicate that despite efforts to save crops around 60% of the affected
population failed to save any food stocks for the coming winter period.
The local sanitary services managed to prevent serious outbreaks ofwater-borne and infectious diseases 1 .
II.

Disaster Management system

1. Administrative system

Conventional long form:
Conventional short form:
Government type:
Capital:Administrative divisions:

Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, withlittle power outside the executive branch
Astana14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3cities (qala, singular - qalasy)

2. Legal system, legal framework
The President's Decree enacted on August 21, 1991 created the State
Commission on Extreme Situations.
In addition, the Law on Civil Defense and the Law on Emergency
Situations of a Natural and Technological Character serve as thefundamental policies on protecting the people of Kazakhstan inemergency situations including threats from natural disasters.
3. Structure of disaster management
The Ministry for Emergency Situations is the prime organization at thecentral government, which carries out response activities for large
emergencies and disasters. It controls industrial technical safety,
coordinates measures on the prevention, supervises national fire service,and serves as the coordinating body for civil defense in Kazakhstan.
Patterned under the US 911, the 051 response system was established in
10 large cities.
4. Priority on disaster risk management
Considering the threats faced by the entire country, the priorities of thegovernment of Kazakhstan include the following: Creation of an Equipped Republican Rapid Rescue Group
1 http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/01/170102.pdf

 Establishment of an automated information management systemfor extreme situations
 Creation of a specialized mechanized engineering group for thedevelopment retrofitting old structures and facilities and for theconstruction of new ones. This group will also provide fast recovery
and reconstruction works during and after a disaster strikes
 Expansion of the network on seismic monitoring to prepare for
future earthquake events
 Stockpiling to prepare for drought seasons Capability building of experts
 Scientific research on natural disasters
 Regional cooperation for disaster reduction
III.

Disaster management plan

The Comprehensive Kazakhstan Natural Disaster Preparedness Planserves as a guide for central and local governments in the country in
implementing measures on disaster reduction. It was formulated withthe assistance of UNDP 2 .
Project Director: Chairman of Emergency Agency of the Republic ofKazakhstan, Dr. of Economy - Sh. K. Kulmakhanov.
Project Coordinators: From UNDP - R. Dion, Program Officer; FromEmergency Agency - A. Kravchuk, Director of Emergency Prevention
Department.
The main principles of Kazakhstan Natural Disaster Preparedness Plan
have been defined: to generalize to the fullest extent possible the problemof preventing and responding to natural disasters in the republic; tomake the provisions of the Plan general and instructional; and to ensurethat the Plan corresponds to an adequate extent to existing regulatoryacts.
In accordance with this Plan, plans of all levels and directions should be
drafted based on specific tasks and conditions.
Because Kazakhstan's territory is susceptible to natural disasters acrossa wide spectrum of types and scales, the Plan has been drafted to begenerally applicable to all types and scales of natural disasters and is of
2 http://www.undp.kz/library_of_publications/start.html?redir=center_view&id=90

an instructive nature.
It is proposed that the Plan be periodically revised and re-approved toensure that it remains current.
The Plan is based on domestic and foreign management experience in thefield of emergency situations, and the recommendations of international
and local experts have been taken into account.
Structurally, Kazakhstan Natural Disaster Preparedness Plan consists ofan introduction and five parts: General Provisions, Preparedness,Response, and Accountability for Failure to Perform or for Improper
Performance of the Plan's Measures, and the Procedure for Approval andImplementation of the Plan, as well as conclusions and appendices.
IV.

Budget size on national level

V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by the Ministry

Title: Local Risk Management in Earthquake Zones of Kazakhstan
Brief description:
In response to an umbrella initiative of the UNDP Bureau for Crisis
Prevention and Recovery, Disaster Reduction Unit (UNDP/BCPR/DRU),
this project is designed to support local level risk management. The
project aims to support Kazakhstan in order to strengthen the capacities
of local communities to participate in early warning and preparedness toearthquakes and to equip local communities with the knowledge andskills required for effective mitigation in case of natural disasters. The
project is based on the results and lessons learned from the earthquake insouthern Kazakhstan of 23 May 2003 and will promote the public privatepartnership.
Actors:This project will be nationally executed. The Emergency Agency ofKazakhstan will be the Implementing Partner for the project and provide
overall control of the project implementation. The Red Crescent Society ofKazakhstan and UNDP Country Office, in collaboration with BCPR, will
be responsible for selected project activities as described in the work plan.
A Project Management Committee (PMC) will be established to oversee
the project. The PMC will be comprised of representatives of theEmergency Agency, Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan and UNDP. PMC
meetings will be organized based on project needs. The Chairman orDeputy Chairman of the Emergency Agency will be the PMC Chairman.
A representative from the Emergency Agency will be appointed as theNational Director of the project. UNDP Senior Manager and otherrelevant staff will represent UNDP on the PMC.

Programme Period:
2005-2009
Project Duration:
September 2004 - November 2005
Project Goals:
The project aims to strengthen the capacities of local communities toparticipate in early warning and preparedness for earthquakes; and toequip them with the knowledge and skills required for the effective
mitigation of the effects of natural disasters. This project will raise thelevel of awareness of the local population, decision-makers and public onnatural, technological and environmental disasters, so that they canbetter understand the benefits of prevention and preparedness. It will
also promote access to information for civil society on disaster responseand decision-making.
The project is built on the basis of partnerships between
community-based organizations and various government bodies. These
partnerships will help promote sustainable development through forging
stronger linkages between disaster mitigation and broader development
goals.
Intended Outputs:

Output 1. Survey of the most hazardous and vulnerable settlements;

evaluation of the infrastructure, scientific and monitoring capacity andthe preparedness of civil society; and elaboration of ways to predict
natural disasters.

Output 2. Capable local communities and mass media in preparedness toearthquakes in the disaster zones of Kazakhstan and Almaty oblast in
particular (via mass media, video recording and training) and risk
management initiatives.

Output 3. Development, promotion and approval of the government's

program on "Risk Reduction and Mitigation of Damages from NaturalDisasters" and the allocation of government resources for preparatory
measures.

Output 4. Effective administration, management and coordination of theproject.
VII.

ADRC Counterpart organization
First Deputy Minister
Ministry of Emergency Situations
Beybitshilik Street, 473000 Astana City