During Earth Week, we’re exploring the connections between climate change and the environment we depend on to sustain us. We start in Kazakhstan, the breadbasket of Central Asia and Afghanistan.

“Ас атасы – нан” – Bread is the head of all foods, Kazakh Proverb

By Jennifer Brookland

Selbi Turesheva is passionate about raising awareness of people’s right to health in Kazakhstan.

“Every person may face a time in life when they are in need of medical attention,” she says. “Receiving quality medical care is that person’s human right.”

Turesheva and fellow university student Parvina Kurbanoa became the first volunteers to give their time to Aman-saulyk, an organization that conducts national advocacy campaigns to promote patients’ rights to quality medical care.

Link: Kazakhstan: Extreme winter conditions - DREF operation n° MDRKZ006

Abu Dhabi, 8 Jan. 2013 (WAM) - In line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow up of Gen. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority has ordered the dispatch of emergency relief aid to the people affected by the extreme cold wave in Kazakhstan.

Freezing temperatures reaching minus 46 degrees Celsius have been hitting the northern, eastern and central parts of the country, affecting over 5,000 people

Almaty, 17 October – Over 30 representatives of regional international organizations and Central Asian Governments gather in Almaty for a two-day Central Asia Regional Risk Assessment (CARRA) conference to agree on specific collective measures that need to be taken in order to be fully prepared for the upcoming winter season. The participants will identify potential needs and gauge the capacities at national and regional levels in the following key areas: information management, vulnerability assessment and early warning.

This report covers the period 01/Jan/12 to 30/Jun/12.

Overview

Good afternoon, and thank you for coming.

I arrived in Kazakhstan less than 48 hours ago, after completing a visit to Kyrgyzstan, where my Regional Office is located. It has been my first ever visit to Central Asia and I would like to thank the government of Kazakhstan for inviting me and for its continued cooperation with my office.

Unlike some of its Central Asian neighbours, Kazakhstan has been spared from civil war and ethnic strife, earning it the reputation of being a pillar of stability in an otherwise volatile region. The country also has a relatively comprehensive set of measures in place to regulate civilian acquisition and possession of small arms, and is an active participant in international small arms processes. Yet several incidents of armed violence with extremist and terrorist undertones that took place in 2011 suggest the country is not immune to the misuse of firearms.