Today, on 8 June 2020, UNDP in Kyrgyzstan provided 25,000 medical masks to the Ministry of Emergency of the Kyrgyz Republic. As part of this assistance, it is also planned to provide video conferencing equipment to the ministry. The support is made possible with the financial support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

It turns out, COVID-19 is much more than just a health crisis. Every country, including Kyrgyzstan, who has faced with its consequences, is taking the necessary measures together with its development partners for early response and recovery.

The UNDP Office in the Kyrgyz Republic and Korea International Cooperation Agency Office (KOICA) in the Kyrgyz Republic, taking into account the need to strengthen measures to prevent the spread of the virus, passes 25 thousand medical masks to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (MES) to ensure the safety of the departments of the ministry working in the foci of the spread of infection.

In the near future, in order to strengthen coordination and interaction between government bodies to quickly respond to the crisis, equipment for organizing video-conference communications will also be transferred to the Ministry of Emergencies.

This assistance was provided as part of the KOICA-UNDP project, titled “Increase of safety of the population from fires by strengthening the capacity of the fire and rescue services in the Kyrgyz Republic” funded by the KOICA, which allocated $ 50,000 for the purchase of medical masks and equipment.

The project “Increase of safety of the population from fires by strengthening the capacity of the fire and rescue services in the Kyrgyz Republic” aims to reduce the vulnerability of the population from fires and create conditions for sustainable development by modernizing fire and rescue services. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to build 4 buildings of fire-rescue units and provide with the necessary equipment, machinery, and to carry out measures together with partners aimed at improving the regulatory framework of the fire and rescue service. 

UNDP is making great efforts to urgently respond to COVID-19. Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator said that UNDP is working with its partners on three immediate priorities: “supporting the health response including the procurement and supply of essential health products, strengthening crisis management and response and addressing critical social and economic impacts”.

UNDP in Kyrgyzstan is helping to effectively respond to COVID19 since the early stage of this crisis. UNDP provided Kyrgyzstan with protective gears, tests for coronavirus and ventilators. Total amount of support is about $ 500,000. 

UNDP further intends to continue its assistance for mitigating the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable people and economies so that no one is left behind, and the country could continue of making progress towards achieving sustainable development goals.