Frequent small to medium-scale emergencies raged through the region in 2012, inflicting the most damage on rural households. Support from humanitarian and development partners was often necessary to help affected people back onto their feet, learn from the disaster and better prepare for future shocks.

Temperatures:

During the middle period of December, much below normal temperatures spread across Central Asia, with significant (< -8 degrees Celsius) negative anomalies over portions of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and southern Kazakhstan. Below-average temperatures have also persisted throughout the central highlands and northeast mountains of Afghanistan. During the next week, colder than average temperatures are forecast to continue throughout central and northeastern Afghanistan, where minimum temperature could fall between -30 and -25 degrees Celsius.

Precipitation

Almaty, 23 October 2012 – Between 1 July and 30 September humanitarian funding to the Caucasus and Central Asia decreased threefold compared to the funding received during the previous quarter, according to the regional humanitarian funding update prepared by the Regional UNOCHA Office for the Caucasus and Central Asia (ROCCA). Countries in the region received a total of US$5.5 million during the reporting period.

As a child, Feruza Alimova dreamed of becoming a lawyer so she could help disabled people.

But the 22-year-old cannot pursue a law degree because a bone deformity keeps her homebound. Her parents, who make a living growing cotton and tobacco in the Kyrgyzstani hamlet of Chekabad, in the Ferghana Valley, spend a large chunk of their income on expensive medications for Feruza and two other children suffering a similar bone condition.

OVERVIEW

Natural hazards such as earthquakes, droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme winter weather affect a range of countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA). In addition, rapid urban growth and environmental degradation in some countries have led to overcrowding and settlement in hazard-prone areas. Protracted conflict and limited governmental disaster management capacity in many EMCA countries compound the risks associated with natural disasters.

3 September 2012, ALMATY - For the first time since establishing its presence in Central Asia in 2007, the Regional Office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) for Caucasus and Central Asia signs a year-long grant agreement with the European Commission's Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO). The grant comes within the framework of ECHO's worldwide Disaster Preparedness programme (DIPECHO) that for the past 16 years has addressed vulnerabilities in dozens of countries at risk of devastating disasters.

Learning from Israel's experience: Last week 26 doctors, nurses and hospital administrators from 20 countries arrived at Rambam Health Care Campus to share Rambam's rich experience and knowhow in treating trauma victims.

Last week 26 doctors, nurses and hospital administrators from 20 countries arrived at Rambam Health Care Campus for a unique seminar. The two-week course, held in conjunction with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a simple - and essential - goal: to share Rambam's rich experience and knowhow in treating trauma victims with medical personnel worldwide.

DIPECHO 7: Improving Preparedness and Response Abilities to Natural Disasters in Central Asia.

Dushanbe, 9 July 2012 - Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region has suffered from an increase of disasters resulting from the degradation of infrastructure and preparedness systems that were designed to operate over nominal administrative boundaries which, after 1991, became international boundaries.

Millions of people from the most vulnerable and poorest communities in Central America, Central Asia and the Caucasus region, South-East Asia and Southern Africa will benefit from the European Commission's Disaster-Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO). This year € 35 million has been allocated to help those at risk from natural disasters.

"Building up the resilience of people who face the forces of nature is a central plank of our humanitarian aid policy", said Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.