Where We Work

How We Work

Our Projects

• Tsunami Preparedness: Feasibility Study of Vertical Evacuation Structures in Sumatra
• Hospital Earthquake Safety Manual
• School Earthquake Safety and Preparedness Training (Gurgaon, India)
• Sponsoring Professional Memberships
• Earthquake Engineering Training and Curricula in Pakistan
• Delhi Earthquake Safety Initiative
• Improving Seismic Safety for the Tibetan Community in Dharamsala
• Tsunami Preparedness Guidebook
• GHI-OECD School Earthquake Safety Policy Initiative
• Disaster Preparedness Education Program in Turkish Schools
• Central Asia Region Earthquake Safety Initiative
• School Earthquake Safety in Gujarat
• Global Earthquake Safety Initiative
• RADIUS - Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas against Seismic Disasters
• Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management
• Urban Earthquake Risk Management in Central Asia and Caucasus Region
• Quito School Earthquake Safety Project
• Istanbul Earthquake Scenario Workshop
• Quito Earthquake Risk Management

Central Asia Earthquake Safety Initiative

Almaty, Kazakhstan | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | Tashkent, Uzbekistan
2002-2005

 

THE PROBLEM:

The issue of high urban earthquake risk in the five Central Asian republics, which was the focus of the GHI-organized workshop in Kazakhstan in 1996, had grown even more serious by 2002, due to urban expansion. In spite of pledges by the Central Asian delegates to urge their governments to improve the safety of schools, hospitals, emergency response agencies and critical lifelines, progress had stalled because of scarce resources and a lack of management experience. Model projects were badly needed to demonstrate how citizens, NGOs and government agencies could work collaboratively to improve urban earthquake safety.

 

GHI'S RESPONSE:

GHI secured a 3-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development to promote community-based hazard reduction and disaster mitigation efforts in Almaty, Kazakhstan; Dushanbe, Tajikistan; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. GHI engaged a broad base of stakeholders to identify resources and vulnerabilities and to promote collaborative strategies to tackle complex urban issues related to hazard reduction and natural disaster preparation and mitigation, one step at a time. GHI supported local NGOs in the development and dissemination of high quality educational programs and materials for community-based disaster mitigation including basic disaster awareness, non-structural mitigation, and earthquake-resistant adobe and masonry construction.

 

The project had three chief objectives:

• To raise the awareness of residents, non-governmental organizations, public agencies and businesses of Almaty, Dushanbe and Tashkent about their high risk from earthquakes and their options to mitigate that risk.
• To train residents, non-governmental organizations, public agencies and business of these cities in risk mitigation.
• To support and promote disaster mitigation activities throughout the region.

 

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES:

• Thousands of citizens in Central Asia are safer today because GHI's initiative improved local and regional ability to address earthquake and natural hazard risks.
• Basic disaster awareness public education materials were adopted and disseminated. The program has reached over 50% of schoolchildren in Almaty and similar numbers in Tashkent and Dushanbe.
• Annual citywide earthquake safety initiative symposia have brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders to share information and prioritize needs.
• Baseline urban risk reduction reports examine norms, urgency of tasks, responsible agencies, applicable laws and current strategies. The reports and symposia have stimulated policy-level initiatives by national governments.
• Regional workgroups have developed and adapted public education and instructor-training materials. Ministries of Education and Health have participated in the development of Handbooks on School Disaster Preparedness and Hospital Disaster Preparedness.
• Leadership training was provided to faculty members in environmental and occupational safety, to leaders in civil protection, condominium management and neighborhood training centers, and to staff in non-governmental organizations.
• GHI maintains a cyber-community/website that enables individuals and regional workgroups to collaborate on earthquake preparedness and mitigation efforts.