Uzbekistan is prone to such natural hazards, like earthquakes, landslides, draughts and others which follow to disasters. The Ministry of Emergency Situations plays coordinating role in disaster risk management in Uzbekistan. As part of sustainable development disaster risk management requires a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing the risks of disaster.

To study modern techniques in disaster risk management the knowledge sharing platform between specialists countrywide and experts of neighboring counties is quite important. A group travelled to the Russian Federation to learn more about disaster risk management and create sustainable networks for sharing effective best practices and lessons learned in disaster risk reduction.

The delegation comprising representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, National Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan studied the experience of the Ministry of Emergency Situation of Russia as well as the Academy of Civil Defense, National Crisis Management Center, Moscow City branch of MES Russia, State Central airmobile rescue team, 179-Rescue Center of MES Russia and Russian Research Institute of Fire Defense.

Community based disaster risk reduction is an essential component of disaster preparedness. The Academy of Civil Defense classes are equipped with up-to-date technologies and methods of computer modelling are widely used by the students of the Academy in searching and neutralizing sources of radioactive and chemical contamination.

The study tour was organized by the UNDP “Strengthening Disaster Risk Management Capacities of Uzbekistan” project and OSCE “Strengthening of capacity of Instituted of Civil Defense of Uzbekistan in training of specialists” project with support from the Embassy of Russian Federation in Uzbekistan.