Cross-border co-operation and joint action are essential in reducing disaster risk, conclude participants of OSCE disaster risk reduction training in Tajikistan

A three and a half-day training course on disaster risk reduction for central government agencies, local administrations and Aarhus Centres from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan concluded today in Kairakkum, Tajikistan.

Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities with the support of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the event brought together over 60 representatives from both countries, including a group of seven journalists representing  INTERNEWS project “Media for improved reporting on environment and natural resources in Central Asia."

The training course included a field visit to the village of Madaniyat in Jabbor Rasulov District of Tajikistan where participants had a chance to put to practice their understanding and assessment of risk concepts.

"With the increasing frequency of extreme, climate-induced events, we need to step-up efforts to co-operate across borders and share knowledge and experience in reducing disaster risk. The OSCE's role is to increase the institutional capacity of local communities and Aarhus Centres so they can better address these challenges together", said Martin Rossmann, Head of the Economic and Environmental Department in the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

"This regional training is a unique platform to exchange expertise, experience and best practices between all relevant stakeholders from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan” said Zhanybek Isakov, Deputy Head of Kadamzhai District Administration of Batken Province of Kyrgyzstan.

Referring to the transboundary effects of disasters, Umatullo Faizulloev, Head of the Committee on Emergency Situations in Isfara District of Tajikistan, said: "In this region, if flooding happens in Kyrgyzstan, it then moves to Tajikistan. It is therefore very important for heads of village administrations and Aarhus Centres to attend this training and learn together about disaster risk reduction."

The training course is part of the OSCE project on disaster risk reduction and security in the OSCE area, which is implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, as well as the governments of Austria, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.