Emergency services inadequately stocked.
Kazakhstan Senator Pushes for More Funding for Emergency Services
In a recent statement at the Senate's plenary session, Senator Sergei Ershov expressed concerns about the underfunding of emergency response agencies in Kazakhstan. According to Total.kz, Ershov highlighted the need for increased funding in his parliamentary query to Prime Minister Askar Mamin.
The senator pointed to several instances where emergency situations, such as natural disasters, fires, and environmental hazards, have had a significant impact on the state's interests. He specifically mentioned incidents like the dam breach and flooding in the Turkestan region, the fire in Ridder, and the waste dumps near Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Ershov noted that these agencies face a shortage of funding for material and technical equipment, with the current funding amounting to only 42% of the necessary norms. Moreover, he expressed concern over the decreasing allocation for the construction of social facilities for the protection of the population and national security.
In response, Ershov proposed that the 2022 budget should include adequate funding to equip civil defense agencies with the necessary resources. He also raised issues regarding housing for emergency services personnel and the enhancement of the "Civil Defense" law.
While the specific budget allocation for social infrastructure construction and emergency response agencies in Kazakhstan for 2022 is not explicitly detailed, past initiatives suggest a strong government commitment to social infrastructure development. For instance, participatory budgeting has been institutionalized at local levels to address community needs better, demonstrating ongoing attention to funding social infrastructure initiatives. Additionally, large-scale projects focused on transport and energy infrastructure indicate a broader governmental priority given to infrastructure investments.
Despite the lack of explicit details regarding the 2022 budget, the government's focus on transparency, corruption, and the mobilization of funds for infrastructure implies a structured approach to financing crucial public services, potentially including emergency response capacities.
- Senator Sergei Ershov suggested that the 2022 budget should allocate sufficient funds to arm civil defense agencies with necessary resources, considering the current funding for material and technical equipment falls short of the required 42%.
- In the realm of politics, Senator Ershov has raised concerns over the decreasing allocation for social facilities construction in Kazakhstan's business sector, particularly in the context of emergency services, citing underfunding and the need for increased funding across general news reports.
