OSCE Office organizes meeting on response to natural disasters in southern Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 14 March 2006 - Ways of dealing with disasters in southern Kyrgyzstan and the National emergency plan will be the focus of a meeting in Osh on 17 March.

The event, organized by the regional department of the Emergency Situations Ministry and the NGO Civil Society Support Centre with financial support from the OSCE Field Office in Osh, will bring together provincial and district representatives of the Ministry, local authorities and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.

"This meeting will help improve co-ordination between the Emergency Situations Ministry, civil society and international organizations in responding efficiently to disasters," said Jerome Bouyjou, Head of the OSCE Field Office.

"We will present our new project 'Improving the preparedness for natural disasters in the South of Kyrgyzstan,' which aims to improve co-ordination between Governmental agencies responsible for disaster management and raise the awareness of communities exposed to disasters."

Bolotbek Aidaraliev, the First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, thanked the OSCE for its help in organizing the meeting, saying: "Strong co-ordination between key organizations and the preparedness of local communities are the most important elements for better coping with emergency situations."