KZBlog

A bit out of date now, but Global Voices Online had an interesting post up reviewing the Lack of state aid to flood victims after two dams burst in Almaty oblast.

Reports of party officials staying in nicer tents than the victims are sad, but not wholly unexpected. Reports that the temporary housing for villagers is not very nice also doesn’t particularly bother me. But claims that officials are delaying distributing aid are disturbing. Hopefully they aren’t planning to wait until the 6th of July!

Another interesting facet of this disaster is that suddenly Kazakhstan seems to have discovered solicitation of funds for disaster relief. For the first time, I have seen boxes at cash registers asking for aid for a particular disaster. Members of Parliament, province governments and ministries all made very public donations (after an act of government) and citizens are being urged to give. I even saw a truck with bullhorns on it announcing that NurOtan was taking donations. This includes donations for the people in East Kazakhstan who are victims of floods due to too much snow melting, not infrastructure fail.

I wonder why this solicitation is starting now. I don’t remember this much noise being made after the mining disasters in Temirtau or floods in East Kazakhstan last year or the sudden blizzard in South Kazakhstan that closed roads. Is Kazakhstan learning from Haiti disaster relief? Let’s hope this marks the start of public charitable giving.