IOM has launched a EUR 390,000, 18-month project funded by the
European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
Department (ECHO) to build disaster risk reduction capacity and
community preparedness in Turkmenistan.

The project aims to strengthen Turkmenistan’s Civil
Protection and Rescue (CPR) department, which comes under the
Ministry of Defence, by providing training and technical assistance
to CPR staff. It will also increase the capacity of targeted
communities to be prepared for and respond to natural
disasters.

The project will be implemented by IOM, in close cooperation
with the Ministry of Defence and the Turkmenistan National Red
Crescent Society. Training will be delivered by international
experts.

 

Turkmenistan suffers from frequent earthquakes, floods and
mudflows. Almost the whole country is seismically active, including
the cities of Ashgabat and Turkmenbashy and the provinces of Ahal,
Lebap, Mary, Dashoguz and Balkan. Major tremors occurred in 1929,
1946, 1948, 1983 and 1999. In 2000, Balkanabad suffered a quake
registering 6 on the Richter Scale. 

 

The project plans to train some 600 CPR staff, including 60
disaster response specialists. It will also equip seven CPR rescue
teams.

 

In addition, it will provide disaster preparedness training for
some 4,700 members of the public, including school children, in 20
high risk communities. Communities will be encouraged to develop
disaster response plans.

For more information, please contact 

Ahmet Shadurdiev

IOM Turkmenistan

Tel. +99312 420817

Email: "mailto:ashadurdiev@iom.int">ashadurdiev@iom.int