Kyrgyzstan is fully experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, Minister of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, Boobek Azhikeev, said in an interview with Report.
"The frequency of natural disasters has tripled since 2004," stated Minister Azhikeev. "In that year alone, the country witnessed more than 360 mudflows, affecting over a thousand homes and claiming 22 lives, mostly women and children. These were just the consequences of heavy rainfall."
The minister further highlighted the increased seismic activity in recent years. "While previously there were up to two tremors per month, now daily fluctuations of magnitude 4-5 are being recorded. In the first eight months of this year, the damage from natural disasters amounted to 1.8 billion soms, or around $21.2 million."
Azhikeev emphasized the need for regional cooperation to effectively combat natural disasters. He noted that international financial institutions prefer working with a group of countries facing a common problem within a unified financing program.
"The COP29 conference provides an excellent platform for discussing new climate challenges," said the minister. "Over two days, we held about 15 important meetings on emergency situations and negative climate changes, discussing cooperation with hydrometeorological and forest services, as well as financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization."
Azhikeev praised the organization of the conference, from the layout of the pavilions to ensuring cleanliness, describing it as being at the highest level.