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Reducing Vulnerability of the Poor to Natural Disasters in Kyrgyz Republic

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (23 September 2004) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will boost the preparedness of the Kyrgyz Republic to cope with natural disasters, through a US$1 million grant approved from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), financed by the Government of Japan.

The project will help national and local authorities in the country reduce the vulnerability of the country's poor to frequently occurring natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, mudslides, and avalanches.

"Natural disasters have a significant impact on the country's economy as well as elsewhere in the region," says Lyaziza Sabyrova, Project Officer. "Usually those hardest hit are the poor."

The project will support a special study of the impact of natural disasters, in particular on the country's poor. The results will be disseminated among Government officials and decision-makers at the central and oblast (district) levels.

It will specifically target improved natural disaster monitoring, management, preparedness, and response in the Ministry of Ecology and Emergency Situations and among oblast authorities.

A mechanism for incorporation of natural disaster issues into the fiscal planning process, national development plans, and donors' assistance strategies will be also developed and tested.

It will also strengthen the Government in dealing with relocation of the poor from disaster-prone areas. Resettlement/relocation plans will be prepared in accordance with ADB social safeguards and principles, and tested by national nongovernment organizations at the grassroots level.

Community-based disaster management projects in selected disaster-prone areas will be pilot tested in the context of the national and oblast capacities strengthened under the grant.

The Ministry of Ecology and Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic will implement the project, which will last about two years, starting in January 2005.

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members - 45 from the region. In 2003, it approved loans and technical assistance amounting to US$6.1 billion and US$177 million, respectively.

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