UN General Assembly declares Aral Sea region a zone of ecological innovations and technologies

The United Nations General Assembly adopted, without a vote, a resolution declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of ecological innovations and technologies. It will support regional activities and initiatives aimed at improving environmental, social, economic and demographic situations in the region. The initiative was launched by 50 states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The Aral was once the fourth largest inland sea. Now it’s almost dry and turned into a small body of water. Valuable species of commercial fish disappeared from it, as well as wild animals that lived in the region, such as the Caspian tiger, cheetah, swans, flamingos and white heron.

Saline deserts of more than 5.5 million hectares have appeared on the exposed part of the Aral Sea, where dust storms are raging, spreading thousands of kilometers of dust and toxic salts into the atmosphere, destroying vegetation. The environmental disaster has affected the lives and health of millions of people. Doctors report an increase in the incidence of laryngeal and esophageal cancer, as well as respiratory, eye and other diseases. The Aral Sea itself may never be the same, but local residents need protection and help.

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova