Suzak – 18 June 2021 - Today a solemn ceremony was held to mark the start of construction of the new fire and rescue station within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Director of KOICA, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, the Plenipotentiary Representative in Jalal-Abad Oblast, and the UNDP representatives attended the ceremony. 

The construction of a new building for the fire and rescue station in Suzak is being implemented as part of a joint project by KOICA and UNDP in cooperation with Korean experts and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In cooperation with Korean experts, UNDP will build four new fire and rescue stations in the cities of Cholpon-Ata, Osh, Bishkek, and Suzak, as well as provide modern fire-fighting equipment machinery and improve the quality of fire-fighting services. The project also includes training courses to enhance the skills and knowledge of fire and rescue service personnel. Working conditions of firefighters will also be improved, based on gender equality, universal access to fire services and principles of sustainable development.

During the ceremony, the country director of Korea International Cooperation Agency Mr. Jongsu Yi noted that “In strong partnership with the Ministry of Emergency situation of the Kyrgyz Republic, United Nations Development Programme and city administration, we can implement the project successfully. I believe that the construction of a new fire station with new equipment can guarantee the safety of Suzak citizens in the future, government resilience, regional development and COVID-19 response.”

At the ceremony Mr. Absattar Syrgabaev, Plenipotentiary Representative in Jalal-Abad Oblast emphasized: “Today, a significant event is being held in Jalal-Abad, which is very important for the region. The work conditions for our fire-rescuers development are being created, and the construction of a new building for the fire department begins. I congratulate the staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and thank our partners.”

Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Akylbek Mazaripov said at the ceremony: “Today is a significant day for the MES employees and residents of Suzak, because we are in the process of laying a capsule in the building of the fire station in Suzak. The reason it is being built here in the center of the district is because it is a densely populated area with a high level of risk. With the support of our partners KOICA and UNDP, we have achieved significant results in increasing the technical and human capacity of the Ministry. The implementation of the current project, which provides the construction of fire and rescue units, the supply of fire-fighting equipment, is very important and timely for us. Since, unfortunately, the number of fires is increasing every year and during the heating season the number of calls for fires can reach up to twenty per day. We are deeply convinced that the improvement of fire-fighting units will serve as a good help for a prompt response to fires, and most importantly, will reduce the number of deaths in fires. On behalf of myself and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, I would like to thank our partners KOICA and UNDP.”

“Many of our activities are aimed at strengthening the national capacity for disaster risk management, and projects implemented jointly with the Ministry of Emergency Situations contribute to the development of systems for monitoring and forecasting natural disasters, crisis management and disaster response services,” said Marat Abdrakhmanov, Chief Technical Advisor, Disaster Risk Management Program Coordinator at UNDP Kyrgyz Republic.

UNDP will modernize fire protection facilities and equipment in order to reduce human casualties and physical damage caused by fires, as well as strengthen fire-fighting capacity to protect the vulnerable population, especially women and children.