Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 11-12 April 2013, the UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, together with the Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Joint United Nations Programme on HIVAIDS (UNAIDS) and the UN Women visited the joint project sites in Karakalpakstan to see how the UN agencies are supporting the local communities in addressing their needs.

The representatives of UN Agencies expressed their deep concern about the scale of environmental disaster in the Aral Sea region which also had profound impact on livelihoods and the level of human development of the local population, the UN Information Center said.

They looked closely at the implementation of the UN Joint Programme “Sustaining Livelihoods Affected by the Aral Sea disaster”, which is a first large scale joint effort of UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, WHO and UNV in Uzbekistan. The Joint Programme focuses on three key interrelated areas including, income generation, access to effective social services and local development through empowerment of communities, and with the total funding of $3.84 million provided by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security.

The Joint Programme addresses the human security needs of more than 130,000 people in three most affected districts of Karakalpakstan, including Muynak, Shumanay and Kanlikul. One of the specific activities of the Programme is on improving the income generation opportunities of local population through introduction of sustainable agricultural practices and establishment of demonstration plots together with farmers and dehkans. The representatives of UN agencies visited one of such demonstration plots in the Arazimbetkum community of Kanlikul district specialized on improved horticulture practices, which is one of the few income generation sources in the target areas.

They have also witnessed the practical application of land laser leveling equipment at a farming enterprise in Buston community. This new land leveling technology introduced by the UN Joint Programme in 6 farming enterprises of Kanlikul and Shumanay districts is expected to help farmers increase the efficiency of irrigation water use by 25%.

The Programme has been supporting the improvement of access to quality health services in target districts through training of health professionals, introducing new approaches to lung health and increasing awareness on reproductive health issues, family planning and HIV prevention. It is important to highlight that Karakalpakstan has the highest rates of tuberculosis incidence in the country. The UN representatives visited the Air quality monitoring project located at the Republican State sanitation and epidemiological surveillance centre building, implemented within the framework of the UN Joint Programme.

The UN agencies also stress the importance of early childhood development, and thus work in target areas to introduce new practices and improve facilities. The UN family representatives visited the kindergarten #13 in Muynak district and the kindergarten #11 at Janakala community of Kanlikul districts, and had the opportunity to observe the existing needs of communities for improved infrastructure.

Given the priority focus by the UN on energy efficiency agenda, the UN family representatives visited the pilot school in Beskopir community of Kanlikul district, which was retrofitted and equipped with applied energy efficient/energy saving technical solutions. The results of this pilot initiative demonstrated the possibilities of more than 50% reduction in energy consumption of the school solely based on application of energy efficient construction practices.

The joint visit served to enhance better understanding of multidimensional challenges faced by the population affected from the Aral Sea disaster, which created not only environmental, but also economic and social vulnerabilities in the surrounding areas. The UN agencies would therefore stress the need for greater support to the affected population and call on the international community and the national stakeholders to join efforts in responding to this disaster.