In Kyrgyzstan, the issue of forced relocation from dangerous areas is becoming increasingly relevant. According to Azamat Mambetov, the First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, the Ministry has no authority to influence those who refuse to leave their homes in high-risk zones. He noted at a briefing at the Sputnik press center that an early spring is expected, and the air temperature is already 1–2 degrees above normal. This creates a threat of landslides and mudflows, as heavy rains make the soil heavier, and rapid snowmelt in the mountains can lead to flooding.
The situation appears paradoxical: the government allocates land plots and offers preferential loans, allowing people to build new homes and even relocate their families. However, many still return to old, unsafe places.
“Children live on new plots, while their parents continue to stay in potentially dangerous zones. They even sign documents acknowledging that they are prepared for the consequences if a landslide occurs,” Mambetov said.
Local residents provide standard arguments: convenience for grazing livestock and an unwillingness to leave their native places where they grew up. As a result, rescuers are forced to collect documents about readiness for a possible disaster, which have no legal force in the face of a natural calamity. The Deputy Minister emphasized that history has seen tragic cases where 20–30 people died at once in such areas.
According to Mambetov, “The Ministry of Emergency Situations does not have the tools for forced relocation. We have appealed to law enforcement agencies to start working with such families.”
As of today, there are about 4,000 potentially dangerous areas registered in the country. Of these, approximately 2,500 families have already received compensation and land plots, but the actual relocation process is stalled. The issue has long become a matter of civic responsibility. The state spends significant resources on preventing emergencies, but people continue to risk their lives for pastures. Until real mechanisms for addressing such negligence towards safety emerge, tragedies in mountainous areas will continue to recur.
