On behalf of the United Nations Development Group for Europe and Central Asia, UNDP organized a third meeting on managing slow onset and other crisis risks in Central Asia on 14-15 April 2011, in Almaty. This meeting was organized for representatives of international, donor, and inter-governmental organizations working in the region. The meeting and its background papers covered four inter-related areas of regional risk and risk management in Central Asia.

From the UNDP website

Morena lake in the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan

Central Asia is a region at high risk of natural disasters. In particular, the most vulnerable parts are the watershed areas - Pamir and Tien Shan. These risks are caused by the topographic, geophysical, hydrological and climatic conditions of the areas, as well as man-made factors that often exacerbate the situation. Every year, it is estimated that the economic losses amount to hundreds of millions of US dollars annually for each of the countries of Central Asia.

However, by strengthening regional cooperation, improving disaster preparedness and the disaster response plan and other measures, these losses, and the risk of future losses caused by potential disasters, can be reduced.

Building capacities and developing strategies to reduce the risk from natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, mudslides and avalanches are the priority activities for the forthcoming years.

The first Working group meeting within the framework of Regional Program on Improving Weather, Climate and Hydrological service delivery in Central Asia took place on the 10-11^th of February in the World Bank office in Almaty.