In response to the devastating floods sweeping through Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has issued directives on April 16, to prioritize budgetary allocations towards flood relief efforts.
Akorda reports that Tokayev has instructed the government to forego hosting image-building and major events in order to redirect financial resources towards assisting flood-affected citizens and addressing widespread destruction.
One of the notable cancellations is the Astana international forum, originally scheduled for June in the capital city of Kazakhstan. Tokayev justified this decision by emphasizing the urgent need to conserve financial resources to aid in the aftermath of the floods and provide essential assistance to affected citizens.
“I canceled a major international forum to save money. We will reduce the costs of the World Nomad Games. It is no longer possible to cancel such an event, but the budget will be significantly reduced. In addition, the budget for our country’s holding and participation in the World Exhibition in Tokyo will be reduced,” Tokayev said at a meeting with residents evacuated after the flood.
Despite the financial constraints imposed by the floods, President Tokayev assured affected citizens that the state would fully compensate for all damages incurred. For those whose homes cannot be salvaged, plans are underway to construct new housing and provide necessary infrastructure. Additionally, measures will be implemented to offer deferments on loans and borrowings for flood victims, offering much-needed relief amidst the crisis.
The scale of the flooding, which began in late March, has been unprecedented, with over 100,000 individuals evacuated from inundated areas and a state of emergency declared in ten regions across the country. President Tokayev described the floods as the most severe in decades, emphasizing the magnitude of the natural disaster and its far-reaching consequences.
In his address to the nation, Tokayev underscored the gravity of the situation, noting that this may be the largest disaster Kazakhstan has faced in over 80 years.
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