Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
The warning comes as several parts of Central Asia endure prolonged periods of intense heat, with forecasters expecting temperatures to climb further in the coming days. Health officials say the hottest days of the summer may still lie ahead, raising concerns about the ability of public services to respond to heat-related illness and protect those most at risk.
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, has urged governments to treat extreme heat not merely as a weather event but as a serious threat to public health and safety. His remarks reflect growing concern that heatwaves are placing increasing pressure on healthcare and social support systems, particularly in regions where preparedness remains uneven.
The WHO European Region, which comprises 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, has warned that fewer than half of its member states have national heat-health action plans in place. Such plans are designed to help authorities coordinate healthcare and social services, issue timely public warnings and ensure support reaches vulnerable groups before temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Older people, particularly those living alone, people with chronic health conditions, homeless people and residents of long-term care facilities are among those facing the greatest risks during prolonged periods of extreme heat. The WHO also points to wider challenges, including a shortage of air-conditioned public spaces, limited preparedness within healthcare systems to deal with heat-related illness and low public awareness of the dangers associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
The alert coincides with forecasts of even hotter weather across the region. Kazakhstan's national weather service, Kazhydromet, expects temperatures to reach as high as 45°C in parts of the country between 9 and 11 July. Temperatures of up to 42°C are forecast in the Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions, while neighbouring Kyrgyzstan is also experiencing intense heat, with daytime temperatures in the capital, Bishkek, expected to reach 36°C.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source wh...
Central Asia’s economy has surpassed $543 billion, driven by Kazakhstan’s economic weight, strong exports and foreign investment, while growing tr...
The United Nations refugee agency is planning a settlement and carpet-weaving workshop for Afghan returnees in Kabul as the country grapples with larg...
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Iran to pay compensation for decades of deaths and damage, adding a new demand to peace talks as Tehran seeks compensation and sanctions relief before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
A criminal court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
Millions of people across Spain and Iceland are preparing on Wednesday to witness a rare total solar eclipse, when the moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, briefly turning daylight into darkness along a narrow path.
Central Asia’s economy has surpassed $543 billion, driven by Kazakhstan’s economic weight, strong exports and foreign investment, while growing trade across Asia points to an increasingly connected region.
The United Nations refugee agency is planning a settlement and carpet-weaving workshop for Afghan returnees in Kabul as the country grapples with large-scale returns and growing pressure on housing, jobs and basic services.
Iran will soon join the New Development Bank (NDB), the lender established by BRICS nations, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said in a state media report on Wednesday ahead of a BRICS finance meeting in India.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has outlined an expanded vision for the Zangezur Corridor, describing it not simply as a transport route connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan exclave, but as a future platform for energy, telecommunications and wider regional integration.
Iran and Russia are seeking closer cooperation on arms control and Iran’s nuclear programme as the two countries deepen strategic ties amid heightened tensions with the U.S. and Israel.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment