8 December 2023, Cholpon-Ata – Today a landmark ceremony was held to mark the successful completion of the construction of the fire and rescue station within the triangle cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

The Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Issyk-Kul region, the Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Kyrgyz Republic, KOICA Country Director, and UNDP Resident Representative attended the ceremony in Cholpon-Ata. 

This achievement is a result of a collaborative effort with KOICA and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as part of a broader initiative to construct four fire and rescue stations across Kyrgyzstan, including Bishkek, Osh, and Suzak (Jalal-Abad oblast). A collaboration aims not only to bolster the Kyrgyz Republic's disaster management capabilities but also to supply modern firefighting equipment, machinery, and enhance the overall quality of firefighting services. Along with technical assistance, UNDP improved the working conditions of firefighters, mainstreamed gender equality, expanded universal access to fire services, and ensured adherence to sustainable development principles.

Mr, Boobek Azhikeev, the Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, noted the project's timeliness, given the annual increase in the number of fires, particularly during the heating season, and said: “Major fires around the world, which have claimed many lives and turned mountain forests into ash, are once again called upon to strengthen the efforts of firefighters and rescuers in Kyrgyzstan. As part of our cooperation, we have successfully implemented the initial stages of a grant project to increase the capacity of the fire and rescue service with a total amount of 8 million US dollars.”

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Lee Won-jae noted: “Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea and Kyrgyzstan have expanded cooperation in various fields, and we hope that exchanges and cooperation between two countries will expand and deepen in the future. The Korean government plans to continue to strengthen development cooperation to assist Kyrgyzstan's socioeconomic development and improve the quality of life of its people.”

KOICA Country Director Mr. Jongsu Yi highlighted the escalating global prevalence of natural disasters, emphasizing the crucial role of disaster risk reduction: “In addition to the major areas of cooperation, such as public administration and agriculture and rural development, KOICA will strengthen cooperation to improve our ability to respond to climate change, environmental pollution, and various related problems.”

Ms. Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized the importance of disaster risk reduction and climate emergency response. She stated, “We joined hands to expand access to more than 400,000 people to receive timely assistance in case of emergencies. We worked to reduce incident response times by providing modern equipment and technology that play a key role in saving the lives of people in the Issyk-Kul region.”

UNDP has successfully modernized fire protection facilities and equipment to reduce human casualties and physical damage caused by fires. The strengthened fire-fighting capacity aims to protect the vulnerable population, particularly women and children.

While the Cholpon-Ata fire and rescue station is now operational, construction in Bishkek, Osh, and Suzak is progressing and expected to be completed by next year. These fire stations are expected to further fortify the country’s resilience against potential disasters. The successful completion of the Cholpon-Ata station marks a significant step towards a safer and more secure future for the people of Kyrgyzstan.

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.kg.undp.org or follow at @UNDPKG.

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Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, Communications Officer at +996775755776