LocationsBuilding Stronger and Safer Communities Through Youth Education
October 24, 2024
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) and the Civil Protection Institute under the MES Academy, organized a special training event for students and teachers of School No. 13 in Parkent District, Tashkent Region. This event aimed to equip participants with essential skills to effectively respond to natural disasters and emergencies. Held at the Civil Protection Institute, the training marked the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Children and youth, being particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, require comprehensive protection. Reflecting this, the theme of the 2024 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is “Empowering the Younger Generation for a Sustainable Future.” This year's event focused on ensuring the safety not only of children but also of their families and communities by educating students on disaster preparedness.
“Due to its geographical and geological characteristics, the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan is prone to natural disasters and hazards. Thanks to the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan, significant attention is being directed toward protecting the population and regions from these natural threats. A number of relevant reforms have been launched and are ongoing across the republic, with the focus on extensive preventive measures at the local level,” said Sanjar Zuparov, First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in his opening remarks.
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Akiko Fujii, addressed the event participants, stating: “No country can prevent disasters, but we can be prepared. Today, we are here to empower young people through education on disaster risk reduction. It is important that you – the youth and children – learn how to protect yourselves. After this event, you will be able to share this knowledge with your parents, families, and neighbors, helping to build safer and more resilient communities”.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to visit the Earthquake Museum, explore rescue, firefighting, and other emergency equipment used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, and experience an earthquake simulation while practicing emergency response skills. Additionally, experts from the Civil Protection Institute provided lessons on first aid and demonstrated search and rescue operations, including those involving MES dog handlers.
Organizing community-focused events for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction has become a key tradition of the UNDP project, implemented in collaboration with MES and Uzhydromet, and funded by the Green Climate Fund. These initiatives provide students and local residents in disaster-prone areas with practical skills to prepare for and respond to emergencies. By participating, they gain a deeper understanding of the risks and consequences of natural disasters, ultimately increasing their resilience and preparedness.
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The project “Enhancing Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to increase resilience of Uzbekistan communities to climate change-induced hazards” is a joint effort of UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Uzhydromet, funded by the Green Climate Fund. The project is designed to ensure modernization of the country’s early warning system into an impact-based MHEWS with the focus on floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches and hydrological drought in the more populous and economically important mountainous regions of Ferghana Valley.
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