Page 594 – The Times Of Central Asia

20 Aug 2024

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Central Asia Takes Steps to Ward off Mpox after WHO Declares Emergency

August 20, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Central Asian countries have prepared mpox test kits and taken other precautions since the U.N. World Health Organization said last week that the sharp increase in cases of the virus in Africa posed an international health emergency.

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are among countries in the region that say they have not registered any suspected cases of the virus. They are heeding the advice of WHO, which is appealing for a coordinated international response to prevent its wider spread. The U.N. health agency also declared a global health emergency because of mpox in 2022, and cases were reported around the world before declining.

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that it has increased sanitary and quarantine measures at airports, railway stations and border crossings, and is focusing on people coming from countries where cases of mpox have been reported.

“Today, sanitary and quarantine points are equipped with thermal imagers and contactless thermometers for the timely detection of people with fever,” the ministry said. It added that WHO had assisted with the delivery to Kyrgyzstan of 3,000 PCR tests for detecting mpox in 2022. Some 500 tests were available as of Monday and efforts are underway to procure more tests, according to the ministry.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also conducting similar precautionary measures.

Timur Sultangaziyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister, said methods for detecting people infected with the mpox virus are based on the COVID-19 pandemic and treatment guidelines are in place, according to the Kazinform News Agency.

Health officials in Uzbekistan said they are planning for a 21-day medical observation period of anyone who has had contact with a patient sick with mpox. Like other Central Asian countries, they plan to build up their reserve of test kits for the virus. Medical specialists are also being trained in how to handle the disease.

Mpox has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC, for more than a decade, with cases increasing each year, according to WHO. The number of cases reported so far this year is more than last year’s total, with more than 15,000 cases and at least 500 deaths, according to WHO. Some other African countries have reported a far smaller number of cases.

The DRC outbreak is being driven by two strains – one that mostly affects children, and a new one that “primarily affects adults and is spreading rapidly, sustained largely, but not exclusively, through transmission linked to sexual contact and amplified in networks associated with commercial sex and sex workers,” WHO said.

Mpox symptoms can include fever, skin rash, lesions and chills. Most treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. The disease can spread through close contact with an infected animal or person.

20 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

More Mudflows Flood Homes in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region

October 8, 2024
By Anton Chipegin

Powerful mudslides caused by heavy rains are again causing damage in Kyrgyzstan’s northern Issyk-Kul region. A state of emergency has been declared in three districts.

The mudflows descended in several locations in the south and north of the Issyk-Kul region, flooding highways and mountain passes. In the town of Cholpon-Ata, water from the canal has reportedly flooded the streets. Several resorts and vacation homes have also been flooded, and there are power outages in the region. Eyewitnesses have reported that Lake Issyk-Kul has turned green.

It is known that dozens of people have been evacuated from the flooded areas.

Seven hundred fifty-five rescuers and military personnel are clearing up the damage, but heavy rains are still forecast for the coming days. Other parts of Kyrgyzstan, such as Naryn and Jalal-Abad in the center of the country, are also susceptible to mudflows.

“We urge citizens to be vigilant and observe precautionary measures,” rescuers have appealed to citizens.

20 Aug 2024

Central Asia, International Affairs, Business & Economy

Russia Wants to Ban Migrants’ Families

December 19, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Russia is considering a bill that could restrict the right of migrant workers to bring their families into the country. The initiative from LDPR deputies, led by Leonid Slutsky, has already sparked active discussions among politicians and society.

The main goal of the proposed law is to reduce the inflow of uncontrolled migration and the ensuing public tension. Particular reference is made to the many migrant families living in Russia who accumulate debts for public utilities and create enclaves where local laws and customs are often ignored. The bill suggests that with the exception of highly qualified specialists, the presence of a work contract or a patent, should no longer be a reason for migrants to move their families to Russia.

This bill is not the only measure aimed at tightening the migration policy in Russia. In 2022, a “controlled stay” system was introduced, strengthening control over migrants on the country’s territory.

In recent years, Russia has also introduced labor migration quotas limiting the number of jobs available to foreign nationals, especially in construction, trade, and other low-skilled sectors. These quotas were further tightened, resulting in fewer migrants entering the country.

Another measure was the introduction of compulsory health insurance for migrants, adding a financial burden to those coming to work in Russia. In addition, strict language and cultural integration requirements have been introduced, including mandatory Russian language training and exams on the country’s history and culture.

Such actions have drawn criticism from human rights activists, who believe that the restrictions could increase social tensions and make life difficult for migrants already living in Russia.

20 Aug 2024

Justice, Tajikistan Justice, Home, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Local Politics, Tajikistan Home

New York NGO Calls on Tajik Authorities to Release Journalist Ahmad Ibrohim

August 20, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

The New York-based press freedom NGO the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Tajik authorities to release journalist Ahmad Ibrohim. Ibrohim is the founder and editor-in-chief of Paiq, the only independent newspaper in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region.

According to Radio Ozodi sources, Ibrohim was detained on August 12. CPJ expressed concern that his arrest underscores the dangers journalists in Tajikistan face.

CPJ’s Program Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia, Gulnoza Said, said Tajik authorities should release Ibrohim and seven other journalists imprisoned for their professional activities, and ensure media freedom.

Officials have not yet provided information about Ibrohim’s detention, and his relatives refuse to comment. However, a source in the security services said that a criminal case had been opened against him under Article 320 of the Criminal Code (bribery), allegedly for attempting to bribe a government official to extend Paiq’s registration.

This is not the first instance of government pressure on Paiq. In 2014, the regional prosecutor’s office stopped the newspaper from operating, citing problems with renewing its registration. Despite this, Ahmad Ibrohim continued to work, remaining one of the few independent journalists in the region.

20 Aug 2024

Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakhstan and China in Talks on Feeding Lake Balkhash

August 20, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced on August 19 that Kazakhstan and China are drafting an agreement on dividing trans-boundary river waters between the two countries.

The main objective of the agreement is to ensure that the water in Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash remains at an optimal level.

Located 280km northwest of the country’s largest city, Almaty, Lake Balkhash is the fifteenth largest lake in the world. It is fed by several trans-boundary rivers flowing from China, the largest of which is the Ili River, which provides about 80% of the lake’s water.

Image: Wikimapia

Environmentalists in Kazakhstan have been concerned about Lake Balkhash’s shallowing. Balkhash has been gradually drying up in recent years, including due to the decline in water volumes in the Ili River. Upstream China has extensively diverted the river over the past half century to produce hydroelectric power and agricultural crops on irrigated land. According to research, as of 2021 China was blocking 40% of the river’s inflow.

Moldir Abdualieva, a spokesperson of the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that the ministry has been paying great attention to providing Lake Balkhash with the necessary volume of water. “Since the beginning of this year, more than 12 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to the lake,” she said.

In May, it was reported that the water level in Balkhash had risen by 23cm since the beginning of the year due to increased rainfall and floods caused by snow melt this past spring.

20 Aug 2024

Central Asia, Home, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Turkmenistan Tourism: Dinosaur Footprints, a Mystical Crater and Healing Lakes

August 20, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Dotted with historical and cultural sites, and blessed with beautiful nature and a good climate, Turkmenistan is beginning to develop its tourism industry.

Turkmen authorities are expanding tourist itineraries, and improving the infrastructure and quality of services. Measures are also in place to provide a clean environment, safe drinking water and better food hygiene.

Turkmenistan has a variety of natural wonders. The unique landscapes of Kopetdag, the Karakum desert, the Amu Darya river, Koytendag, the subtropics of south-western Turkmenistan and the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea are ideal spots for ecological tourism.

The Aydere Gorge in western Kopetdag is also popular with travelers. Here there are dozens of picturesque valleys with pure springs, as well as ancient fortresses and historical monuments that guard the secrets of ancient times. Koytendag, located in the south-east of the country, attracts tourists seeking the traces of dinosaurs that lived here in prehistoric times.

The Sumbar Gorge in the south-west of the country also offers great opportunities for tourism development. Its beautiful mountain valleys, life-giving springs, and diversity of animal life make this place especially attractive.

The national tourist zone Avaza on the Caspian Sea coast attracts tourists from all over the world. Its comfortable climate, therapeutic mud, and mineral springs create ideal conditions for the development of ecotourism.

The Caspian Sea coast, with its amazing nature, changing in every season, impresses one with its beauty and charm.

Places that are also worth visiting in Turkmenistan:

Darvaza

In the heart of Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert is the Darvaza gas crater, which looks like a gateway to the underworld. The fire pit results from unsuccessful drilling conducted by Soviet geologists in 1971.

To prevent the natural gas from harming people and livestock, the geologists decided to set it on fire. The fire, which was supposed to go out in a few days, is still burning to this day. The tongues of flame, reaching ten meters in height, can be seen from several kilometers away. The crater is about 60 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep.

Darvaza is located 266 kilometers north of Ashgabat and 90 kilometers north of the village of Erbent.

Several sinkholes can be found in the vicinity of the crater; one of them is filled with a bright turquoise liquid.

The most impressive sight is Darvaza in the early evening light. Arriving before sunset, you can enjoy a fantastic contrast: the crater, bathed in the orange rays of the setting sun, gradually sinks into darkness, illuminating the desert landscape with bright flames. Other sinkholes are best viewed during daylight hours, but one should be careful as the loose earth near the edges crumbles and chunks of earth fall into the abyss. There is a strong smell of gas near the pit, and the temperature is quite high, so staying here for a long time is not recommended.

Yekedeshik

Yekedeshik, or “one hole,” is a mysterious cave city located near the village of Takhta Bazar in Mary province, on the left bank of the Murghab River. This two-level labyrinth of cave dwellings is a unique creation of ancient craftsmen.

The caves, united by a long gallery-corridor with a semi-cylindrical vault, are dug into clay sandstone at a height of 100 meters above the river. A single entrance leads to the underground city, which gives the place its name.

Yekedeshik is an understudied monument. Research on the site continues to this day. Scientists assume that it was created around the first century BC.

Researchers believe that in the early Middle Ages a large number of families lived here together, as the underground complex was a spacious enough and well-protected dwelling that was hidden from prying eyes. There are 44 caves in the complex.

Abiverd

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Abiverd is a mysterious city located near the Turkmen town of Kaka, which was called Kaahka until the end of the 20th century.
This rare archaeological monument, dating back to the Sassanid era, bears the romantic name Abiverd. The ancient city was part of the frontier line of Iranian cities that held back the onslaught of barbarian tribes deep into Inner Asia.

Excavations have shown that fierce battles took place near the walls of Abiverd. Historical sources mention it as a rural settlement with a warlike population due to its border location.

Gonur-Depe

In 1974, archaeological excavations of a unique urban settlement of the Bronze Age, known as Gonur-Depe, began in south-eastern Turkmenistan.

The excavations uncovered amazing structures, including majestic temples and a large city palace. This indicates that Gonur-Depe was a major metropolitan center with a developed culture.

The inhabitants of Gonur-Depe practiced Zoroastrianism. Archaeological finds confirm the active trade of the city with the states of the East. Seals from Mesopotamia, locally produced clay vessels, and various types of luxurious jewelry were found within the settlement.

Lake Kov-Ata

Located 60 kilometers west of Ashgabat, in the famous Baharden Cave, there is an underground lake, Kov-Ata, which means “father of caves” in Turkmen.

The descent into the cave begins with a steep staircase. At a depth of 60 meters you can see a small part of Kov-Ata Lake.

The water of Kov-Ata Lake is rich in minerals, including iodine, magnesium, iron, bromine, potassium, sodium, sulfate, and other elements.
There is a legend that during the Parthian kingdom, mortally wounded rebellious slaves were healed in the lake’s waters.

Ancient Merv

The Merv oasis is one of the most ancient regions of Central Asia, where irrigation was mastered in ancient times. It is not surprising that one of the largest cities of the ancient world, Merv, emerged there.

The first written references to the city are found in the Avestan chronicles, which date back to the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Chroniclers called it “the soul of the king,” “the mother of the cities of Khorasan,” and “the city on which the universe rests.”

Great thinkers of the Middle Ages lived and worked here, including Omar Khayyam, As-Samani, and Imamaddin-Isfahani.

The modern ruins of Merv include five ancient settlements: Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Sultan-Kala, Abdullahan-Kala, and Bayramalikhan-Kala. Most of them are badly destroyed, and some are left only as crumbling mounds of earth, but even with this, Merv remains one of the most unique monuments of history.