Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Stara Zagora is a medium-sized city with a densely populated urban area with mainly high-rises, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. In February 2019 Stara Zagora adopted a local DRR programme, that is in line with the national one and indirectly covers most of the 10 Essentials outlined in the city assessment review. A local Risk Management council, mainly consisting of city council members, has been instituted, ensuring political attention toward reducing disaster risk. One of the four main priorities of the DRR programme currently being implemented in Stara Zagora is the development of a “sustainable financing system” for risk reduction, and a key discussion area during the workshop was putting this plan into practice.

Kutaisi, Georgia

Kutaisi is a medium-sized city exposed to flash floods, landslides, earthquakes and strong winds, as well as various industrial hazards. In 2019 Kutaisi developed a holistic DRR strategy in line with EU practice and indirectly covering the 10 Essentials as outlined in the campaign for resilient cities. To ensure its implementation, the city council has decided to institute a new department in city hall, charged with public safety. Kutaisi is also in the process of developing a new spatial master plan, that will include provisions for DRR. 2018 and 2019 the staff of Kutaisi has been trained in the coordination of local DRR, as part of an EU project.

Ararat, Armenia

The risk of earthquakes in Ararat are very high, and its citizens have long been aware of the need for earthquake risk prevention. Besides earthquakes, Ararat faces a high risk of drought, strong winds, and soil, air and water pollution. The health and environmental risks (of the cement, asbestos, gold industry) are also of key concern. In 2019 Ararat developed a holistic DRR strategy in line with the EU practice and indirectly covering the 10 Essentials. 2018 and 2019 the staff of Ararat has been trained in the coordination of local DRR, as part of an EU project. The local budget for DRR as well as for all other policy fields is limited, and part of the assessment process was to identify key risk areas, where gaps in financing may lie, and given the resources available, which areas could be prioritized for increased resilience.

Country & Region

Armenia Bulgaria North Macedonia Romania Serbia