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Introduction
Urban Population Trends
Emerging Urban Issues
• Urban Housing and Water Supply: Shortages of Both
• Economic Transition and Employment
• Environmental Issues and Health
• Role for USAID Assistance
Urban Fact Sheets: Eastern Europe & Eurasia
Introduction
The former Soviet Union countries and cities of the Central Asia Republics (CAR) are coping with a unique set of challenges inherited from their centrally planned systems under Soviet rule. Water and air pollution are at extremely high levels in the urban areas and changes in the Aral and Caspian Seas are presenting their own contributions to these problems. Historically mishandled toxic industrial waste and agricultural contaminants and pollutants are common in the CAR, both of which contribute to the high level of illness and poor health in the region. The region is in need of environmental damage control, recovery assistance and environmental policy reform.
High unemployment is prevalent and very high across the region. High hidden unemployment is also an active phenomenon and needs to be addressed. 1 These unemployment rates have potential for reversal, along with greater economic stability tied to abundances of mineral and metal resources, oil and cotton. However, the economies across the region vary in terms of the level of market integration, thus stabilization rates will vary as well.
Some residual border conflicts still exist between countries, as do conflicts due to Islamic militant insurgency. Illicit drug transport and trade across the region into Europe is also very prevalent.
Urban Population Trends
The urban populations of the CAR are slowly increasing as urbanization patterns change. The region has few large cities and Tashkent is the largest city in the CAR with over two million registered residents.2 In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan the urban population growth rate exceeds that of the national growth rate. This growth is demonstrated through the emergence of new towns in Uzbekistan like Almalyk and Navoi and through the population growth in typically historic towns like Samarkand. Similarly, the population of Kazakhstan?s urban areas has increased 500 percent over the past eight years.3 Even though Kyrgyzstan is the least urbanized country in the CAR, moderate migration is still taking place in cities like Bishkek, Osh and Tokmok.
The urban populations in the CAR are shifting away from the involuntary settlement patterns implemented during the Soviet regime. Now, migration takes on more rural to urban patterns causing areas like Bishkek, the Chui Region and Almaty to become increasingly more crowded.
Emerging Urban Issues
Urban Housing and Water Supply: Shortages of Both
Urban housing is a priority issue for the CAR. Between difficulties with privatization and the shrinking role of the state to provide housing, demands are quickly exceeding the current housing stock. At the same time, the condition of existing housing is deteriorating at a rapid rate.
The cities of the CAR obtain their drinking water from aquifers and reservoirs, however toxic amounts of pollutants contaminate both the ground water and surface water sources to a point that very few are safe, especially in Bishkek.4 Urban residents have taken to their own measures to create safe water supplies through boiling and tanking imported water into the cities.
While most urban residents are physically connected to a water supply system, consistent and safe water is not coming through the pipes due to long overdue repairs and reconstruction needs. In Kyrgyzstan, nearly half of water supply systems lack adequate sanitary protection, which results in a high rate of intestinal infections. In Uzbekistan, 11 percent of the urban population does not have piped water and a further 10 percent of those who have access to water, lack sanitary water.5 The almost 50 percent of Kazak water supply facilities that currently do not operate also provides an example of much needed repairs.6 In Bishkek alone, over 200 km of water pipes need to be replaced, as they cannot function at, or near, capacity.7
Solid waste management is an equally severe problem for the cities of the CAR. Although there are approximately 261 garbage dumps in Uzbekistan, only five meet environmental compliance standards.8 In Kazakhstan only one third of urban settlements are serviced with adequate solid waste collection and disposal.9 Of the 155 garbage dumps in Kyrgyzstan, only one fully meets health and hygiene requirements.10 Waste that is not collected and taken to dumps throughout the region ends up in informal dumpsites and along roadsides. These informal sites most often contain hazardous, chemical and toxic waste, mixed in with consumer solid wastes.
No Economic Transition Means No Employment
The slow economic transition process has a direct impact on the employment rates and household income levels in the region. As the individual economies fall behind in competitiveness and stability, and more businesses and factories shut down, the higher unemployment and poverty climbs for the urban areas in the CAR.
Urban poverty levels are highest in small, concentrated areas. Urban poverty in Uzbekistan has no official definition, but it is estimated that 75 percent of the population is living below an income poverty line. In Kazakhstan 35 percent of the population is poor and in Kyrgyzstan, 51 percent is poor.10
Uzbekistan is the world?s third largest cotton exporter and a significant producer of oil, gold and machinery. The state still has a dominating influence in the economy, which is rather closed, and stagnant. The industrial sector in Bishkek is declining, and the agriculture sector is declining in cities like Naryn and Talas. The unemployment rate is 10 percent and 20 percent of the population is under employed.11
Kazakhstan?s economy is supported by enormous fossil fuel reserves, mineral and metals, livestock and grain production. As the economy becomes slowly more liberalized, urban dwellers have taken to entrepreneurship and self-employment in the informal sector in order to create income and sustain themselves. The unemployment rate is 13.7 percent with a 10 percent hidden unemployment rate.12
Kyrgyzstan exports gold and other metals, machinery, hydropower, cotton, tobacco, meat and textiles. The country has carried out the more progressive economic reforms than Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.13 Through these efforts, inflation has been lowered and much of the privatization has already taken place. Despite this progress, government workers and pensioners in Kyrgyzstan face severe wage arrears, sometimes up to two years.
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Environmental Issues and Health: Directly Linked
The cities of the CAR are plagued with contaminated water supplies, poisoned soil, industrial and agricultural pollution, and radioactive and toxic waste issues, most of which are inherited from the Soviet regime. The CAR has notably high levels of radon and uranium in the environment, yet another contributing factor to health disorders and a dangerous environmental status.
Large levels of pollutants and untreated waste are being dumped into the regions? rivers and reservoirs from industrial factories and dysfunctional waste treatment plants. Most cities have severely outdated and failing treatment equipment, if they have a system at all. Only 40 percent of the most densely populated areas in Uzbekistan have sewage systems servicing residences and businesses. Of the wastewater treatment plants in Bishkek, 13 percent do not possess all the necessary treatment equipment and 48 percent do not have a disinfection plant.15
Approximately 800,000 tons of more than 150 pollutants are pumped into the air each year by industrial plants in Uzbekistan, of which about 72 percent are located in Tashkent, Kashkadarin, Bukhoro, Farghona, and Nawoiy. In cities like Andijon and Samarkand, autos contribute about 80 percent of the overall pollutants. In Bishkek the levels of auto emissions can be up to 70 times above the acceptable standard in certain areas of the city.16
The Aral Sea is drying up causing dried residues of pesticides and contaminants to blow into the air, furthering contributing to already polluted air and soil. This drying is also giving rise to desertification around the coastline jeopardizing homes, businesses and more arable land.
Given the vast array of environmental issues, it is not surprising that urban health concerns are equally as extensive. Health disorders and diseases are fairly similar across the CAR with the most prevalent, and fatal, being tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, cardio vascular and liver diseases. The first two diseases can cause significant problems for the urban areas due to their communicable and behavioral nature. Urban areas are also reporting high murder and suicide rates; acts indicative of stress and depression. High levels of alcoholism and drug use are extremely severe urban problems, but are not publicly addressed.
Role for USAID Assistance
Urban Infrastructure Services. Improved urban governance, including expansion and improvement of basic utilities, will provide better services for urban dwellers. Provision of safe water and sanitation will reduce the level of illness and disease. Housing development and reform will alleviate dangerous living conditions and overcrowding in the cities and alleviate the populations of internally displaced persons and refugees.
Economic Growth. Strategic planning assistance aimed at maximizing the region?s economic potential from natural resources will stimulate the economy and begin needed recovery. Assistance with market economy development and privatization of major industries will create industrial activity, reduce unemployment and improve the business climate in the region. Business development training and access to credit will increase economic progress and development of this sector.
Urban Environmental Reform. Technical assistance and aid directed at making environmental improvements will better protect natural resources, reduce disease and illness, add longevity to the lives of CAR residents, thereby increasing economic productivity. Assistance with modern environmental reform will prevent future disasters and damage.
1 def., 'Hidden Unemployment': people who have been employed yet are not receiving wages, those who are employed part-time in the absence of full-time work or the truly unemployed that have given up looking for work.
2 This figure excludes internally displaced persons, refugees, and unregistered immigrants.
3 UN Human Development Report, 1996.
4 UN Human Development Report, 1995.
5 Urban Profiles and Highlights on Health in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, 1998 (www.who.dk)
6 State Program for Poverty Reduction in RK 2003-2005
7 UN Human Development Report, 1995
8 Highlights on Health in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, 1998. (www.who.dk)
9 ibid. - Kazakhstan, (www.who.dk)
10 ibid. - Kyrgyzstan, www.who.dk
11 CIA Factbook, Uzbekistan, 2002.
12 ibid.
13 ibid.
14 UN Human Development Report, 1996.
15 Highlights on Health, Kyrgyzstan, 1998. (www.who.dk)
16 Highlights on Health, Uzbekistan and Kyrgzystan, 1998. (www.who.dk)
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