Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) is set to be endowed with new powers by the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The decision was made on April 4, 2024, during a meeting of the operational headquarters in response to the flooding situation in the West Kazakhstan Region (WKR).
The President instructed that the MES be granted the authority to oversee central and local executive bodies to prevent natural and man-made disasters, emphasizing the need to enshrine this in legislation. President Tokayev emphasized the importance of developing a unified action plan for emergencies and highlighted the epidemiological situation exacerbated by the mass death of animals.
Furthermore, the President directed a focus on preventive flood control measures, stressing the timely removal of snow, ice breaking on dangerous river sections, and the construction of new water passage structures under roads and railways. President Tokayev also stressed the significance of constructing reservoirs to regulate rivers with high water volume, ensuring a necessary water supply for agriculture during the spring and summer.
