Press release: UN Women delivers 1,500 kits of essential items to women and girls in flood affected region in Kazakhstan
Date:
24 July 2020, Nur-Sultan — UN Women in Kazakhstan organized the delivery of 1,500 kits of essential items in the form of hygiene kits, masks, gloves and disinfectants to women and girls affected by the flood in Maktaaral district of Turkestan region in southern Kazakhstan to help alleviate the effects of the flood caused by a dam break in Uzbekistan in May. The large influx of water severely flooded several villages, destroying many houses, and leaving people homeless. More than 22,000 residents were evacuated to temporary settlements. With the support of the Regional Council of Businesswomen in Shymkent and the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Maktaaral district, the essential kits were handed over to the affected women and girls living in the temporary settlements.
“Everyone knows that we were affected by flooding. Since then, we were provided with so much assistance and support,” thanked Janat Sultanbekova, a resident of the flood-affected village of Orgebas.
“I would like to express my gratitude. We are satisfied and glad that all of Kazakhstan helps us. Many thanks to everyone who is now supporting us,” noted Duysenkul Bekmyrzaeva a resident of one of the flood affected villages Zhana Turmys
This assistance was provided by UN Women in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of the annual voluntary contribution, and it is the most relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, because affected women and girls still have been leaving together in common camps in close quarters without personal space. Humanitarian boxes provided personal protection goods (masks, sanitizers and gloves) for women and girls which will be helpful in such conditions.
UN Women in Kazakhstan works in close partnership with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and aims to comprehensively support Kazakhstani women and girls and to ensure a high quality of living standards, taking into account equal rights and opportunities in all spheres of social and economic life.
UN Women in Kazakhstan expresses its gratitude to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy, Lazzat Ramazanova, the Fund for Sustainable Development and Support of Women Entrepreneurship, the Regional Council of Businesswomen in Shymkent, the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Maktaaral District, and “METRO Cash & Carry” LLP for their support.