Reducing mountainous communities’ risk to disasters in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
Working with its sister agencies, and with funding from the EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), Aga Khan Foundation stages prevention and mitigation interventions to enable communities to protect land and homes, and recognise the potential effects of climate change. These interventions complement local development planning and enable communities to make informed decisions before, during, and after disasters. Activities include:
- Strengthening public buildings and homes, and general infrastructure.
- Introducing disaster awareness in schools, enabling school children to transfer their knowledge to their families and the wider community. In 2013, 84% of schools, and 85% of kindergartens were reported as unsafe. To reduce the loss of life, school buildings are being retrofitted with stronger support structures.
- University graduates participate in intensive internship programmes, training them to become potential specialists in integrated risk management.
- Training tour guides to save lives of visiting tourists, and during the off-season, serve as the main source of information and guidance for community first aid when rock-falls and avalanches prevent access to remote areas and delay emergency services.
Image (c) Aga Khan Foundation