OSCE supports seminar on safety of Kyzylorda water facilities

A two-day seminar on the safety and stability of the Kyzylorda water facilities was held on 21-22 April 2015 in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan for 22 representatives of the central and local authorities, the business community and research institutes as well as international and national experts.

Participants discussed the modern inspection methods of hydraulic structures, expert evaluation of the safety and stability of the Kyzylorda water structures developed by international specialists with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. They also discussed capacity building in the water sector and further developing legislation to ensure safety of water systems and facilities. They had a site visit to the Kyzylorda water facilities and evaluated its operations.  A set of recommendations was drafted for further use by the Task Force on Comprehensive Assessment of the Technical Condition of the Kyzylorda water facilities.

In her address to the participants, Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, paid attention to the OSCE Ministerial Council decision on enhancing disaster risk reduction, which encourages participating States to adopt an integrated approach to disaster risk management, including measures for prediction, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery at all levels. She also emphasized the importance of water governance in the context of the OSCE Serbian Chairmanship’s priority and the Year of Water celebrated in Kazakhstan.

The event is a follow-up to the Office’s activities aimed at the prevention, damage limitation and recovery from natural and man-made disasters identified as a priority of the OSCE Swiss Chairmanship in 2014.