On June 11, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev led a meeting of the operational emergency response headquarters in Abai Region on the current forest fire situation in the region that had led to the loss of human lives, the press office of the President of Kazakhstan reports.
After observing a minute of silence in memory of the dead, the President introduced newly appointed Minister of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan Syrym Sharipkhanov.
The President set the crucial tasks to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. He focused on an accumulated backlog of problems in the sector that need to be solved immediately. The major shortcomings include the neglect of professional duties, indifference and the failure of the high-ranking officials to make prompt decisions.
Abai Region Akim Nurlan Urankhaev and Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations Marat Kuldikov reported on the measures taken to fight the fires and mitigate their impacts, evacuate the local populations and provide assistance to the victims.
Identifying the localization of fires and the prevention of deaths among the main tasks, President Tokayev gave specific instructions to the Government and akimats. The President highlighted the need to analyse the mistakes in the actions of the heads of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and ensure that prompt measures for early detection of forest and steppe fires be taken.
