Strengthening flood resilience: Kazakhstan and the Netherlands unite for advanced flood risk management
Kazakhstan experienced unprecedented flooding this spring, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described as the worst disaster in over 80 years. Extreme rainfall, dam breaches, and snowmelt from the Ural Mountains exacerbated the floods, affecting nearly a third of the country. Over 120,000 people were evacuated as floodwaters inundated vast areas, including the city of Atyrau.
The Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction and Surge Support (DRRS) team, led by Associate Professor Fredrik Huthoff from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, played a crucial role in the emergency response. Their efforts included mapping water flows, providing technical support, and collaborating with Kazakh authorities to develop a comprehensive flood management plan.
From August 26-30, 2024, key stakeholders from Kazakhstan and the Netherlands convened in Astana for a pivotal training session aimed at enhancing flood risk management (FRM) strategies in Kazakhstan. Dutch Ambassador Nicolaas Schermers underscored the importance of this collaboration, building on agreements established earlier this year to strengthen water management and flood preparedness.
The training brought together representatives from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the Institute of Geography and Water Security, and other key institutions. The focus was on implementing advanced FRM technologies to improve Kazakhstan's ability to predict, respond to, and adapt to flood hazards, while also developing models and tools to enhance flood resilience.
The UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia is collaborating with DRRS to bolster flood management in Kazakhstan. UNDRR emphasized a multi-stakeholder and multi-hazard approach to disaster risk reduction. The UNDRR National Office also participated in the workshop, where discussions with stakeholders revealed opportunities to improve interagency collaboration.