Government of Turkmenistan and UNHCR discuss emergency preparedness and response

Emergency preparedness is the key to efficient and effective emergency response, but too often, it remains an afterthought – out of sight and out of mind, until an emergency strikes.

Not for representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan however who, on 31 August, participated in an online session convened by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on emergency response in accordance with international standards in case of mass arrival of refugees.

The two-hour session sought to impart the internationally defined standards for emergency response, familiarise participants with the Refugee Coordination Model, as well as to introduce risk assessment and mitigation in such situations. Sessions included the legal framework and key principles of international protection of refugees, access to territory during refugee influx, and emergency response standards.

The capacity strengthening exercise was part of the annual Joint Workplan for 2022 between the Government of Turkmenistan and UNHCR. With the rapidly changing and increasing complexity of humanitarian emergencies around the world, supporting States and civil society to effectively prepare – and respond – is a priority for UNHCR in Central Asia.

The session was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, the State Migration Service, as well as representatives of local executive bodies and other State officials who would be involved in the event of a mass influx of refugees.

“We appreciate the strong commitment of the Government of Turkmenistan to continuously improve its emergency preparedness by training staff, updating and developing new emergency management tools and standby mechanisms, as well as establishing close cooperation with international organizations and partners, including UNHCR,” said Hanifa Karimi, UNHCR Protection Officer in her opening remarks.

As a country neighbouring Afghanistan, Turkmenistan is part of the 2022 Afghanistan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) alongside Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The RRP seeks to support host governments to meet the needs of Afghans of varying statuses, including refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented people, as well as host communities, and potential new arrivals. Even though there has been no mass influx of new arrivals from Afghanistan into the country, together with the Government of Turkmenistan, UNHCR and RRP partners in Turkmenistan – UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) – are focusing on emergency preparedness activities while advocating for safe and unhindered access to territory, and prevention of non-refoulment.

Turkmenistan is a State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol. It is also the only Central Asian country that has acceded to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

UNHCR is a non-resident agency in Turkmenistan with operations implemented by partners and overseen by the UNHCR Representation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan based in Almaty.