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In October 2022, the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) allocated CHF 187,794 for the Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan to implement early actions to reduce and mitigate the impact of Cold Wave in Kazakhstan. The early actions to be conducted were pre-agreed with the National Society and are described in the Simplified Early Action Protocol.
The Simplified Early Action Protocol (sEAP) for Cold Wave in Kazakhstan was activated on 08 December 2024, just after entering the second year of the sEAP.
The outcomes of this activation are detailed in the final report, which provides a comprehensive overview of activities and expenditures from the activation date until the end of the sEAP timeframe.
Kazakhstan is defined by extreme continental climate, with long, hot summers and cold winters. Winter in the north of the country is long and cold – in some years temperatures reached - 52°C (Astana) – but there are also thaws up to +5°C. The shortest season in the north is spring, which lasts for 1.5 months, while summer lasts for 3 months and winter extends from October to April. Snow generally starts falling in November but can continue through late April.
Extreme winters in Kazakhstan are not only characterized by low temperatures, but also by heavy snowstorms and strong winds that obstruct access to food and health services for the most vulnerable groups of population, including unhoused people (including unhoused children), people living with special needs, older people living alone, and single parents. Every winter about 3,000 people need rescue from snowstorms on the roads, hundreds of trucks and passenger vehicles, means of public transport are dug out and towed by specialized services and local communities. Early actions are required in order to prevent hypothermia that can lead to health problems.
The trigger was set as follows: if the 7-day temperature forecast of Kazhydromet shows that the minimum temperature will go below -40˚C (-35˚C in Karaganada region) with precipitation and increased speed of wind, and such conditions persist for at least two days in any target areas – North-Kazakhstan,
Pavlodar, Kostanay, East-Kazakhstan, Abay, Akmola, Karaganda regions, Astana city.
On 8 December 2024, the Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan received information from the Kazhydromet Services that the trigger for the simplified EAP for Cold wave was reached in the North-Kazakhstan region of the country, where temperatures were forecasted to drop below -40°C. In February 2024, the trigger was met in East-Kazakhstan, Abay and Karaganda regions of the country with temperatures dropping below -40° and - 35°C respectively. Early actions to respond to extreme cold weather targeted unhoused people, older people living alone, people living with special needs, socially vulnerable people, and stranded drivers. To address their needs, the Red Crescent branches distributed hot meals, sets of warm clothes and footwear, blankets, and heaters among target beneficiaries.