Osh, Kyrgyzstan (May 19, 2009) –  Under the aegis of the 5th action plan of the Disaster Preparedness Programme funded by the European Commission-DG ECHO, the National Conference of DIPECHO partners and  stakeholders working in the field of the field of Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction will be conducted.  

The main objective of the conference is to review the identified priorities under the fifth DIPECHO Action Plan currently ongoing and through consultation identify sectoral and geographical needs and gaps in Disaster Preparedness (DP) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which will allow the formulation of an appropriate DIPECHO 6 Action Plan for Central Asia during a Regional Conference foreseen for September or October 2009 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). 

The relevancy of the discussed issues is connected with the increase of the quantity of emergency situations and its victims in Kyrgyzstan as well as worldwide. Thus, in 2005, 182 emergency situations occurred with 70 victims, in 2006 – 184 emergency situations with 84 victims, in 2007 – 209 emergency situations with 93 victims, in 2008 – 312 emergency situations with 281 victims in the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Although the number of small scale disasters is increasing over the year, the preparedness measures undertaken by DIPECHO partners and currently ongoing activities are contributing to build the resilience of the most vulnerable population living in disasters prone areas of the country. 

Participants of the conference are the representatives of governmental DIPECHO partners, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as communities leaving in disaster prone areas of Kyrgyzstan. It is expected that about 90 participants will be at the conference. 

The discussion of the problem and priority issues in the field of disaster risk reduction by participants will allow to not only raise the effectiveness of disasters preparedness and risk reduction  measures and coordination activities, but also the role and involvement of civil society in disasters in the sector.

The civil society presented by non-governmental organizations such as: CAMP Ala-Too, Red Crescent Society in Kyrgyzstan, Shoola NGO and others, has the possibility to address the necessary information to population widely and is capable to influence on the change of their attitude to the issues of disaster preparedness considerably. 

The organizers believe that this event will give the possibility for the wide discussion of the most essential issues in the disaster preparedness and risk reduction field and open new ways for cooperation between governmental structures, civil society, international organizations and donor agencies.

The national conference in Kyrgyzstan will allow defining the format and directions for participation of interested parties in the field of disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

The conference is being conducted by the initiative of European Commission, Department of Humanitarian Aid, DG-ECHO in Central Asia and the Ministry of Emergencies Situations in the Kyrgyz Republic by the assistance of the UNDP DRM Programme in Kyrgyzstan.

For more information please refer to Mr. Taalaibek Timeraliev, tel:  3222 70813; 312 614867, e-mail: temiralievtala@mail.ru

The venue of the conference: Osh town, South Residence of the President of KR.