SCO Leaders Adopt Joint Statement to Strengthen Emergency Response and Disaster Aid

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State have issued a joint statement pledging to enhance collective response capabilities for countries affected by natural, technological, public health, and social security emergencies. Announced in Bishkek, the framework prioritizes humanitarian aid to SCO member states upon formal request or consent. The declaration also takes note of specific proposals from Kyrgyzstan and Russia regarding dedicated assistance mechanisms and reserve funding, reinforcing multilateral crisis coordination across Eurasia.

The statement marks a significant step toward institutionalizing non-traditional security cooperation and disaster risk reduction across the SCO footprint. By clarifying that assistance operates on mutual consent, voluntary participation, and consensus, the framework establishes a pragmatic model for joint drills, information exchange, and resource mobilization during large-scale crises without imposing binding fiscal obligations on members.

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State have issued a formal joint statement committed to strengthening emergency response capabilities and humanitarian assistance for countries facing major crises. According to the statement released by Xinhua from Bishkek, SCO member states expressed growing concern over the increasing frequency and scale of natural, technological, public health, and social security emergencies across the region. The statement specifically highlighted threats posed by earthquakes, floods, mudslides, avalanches, wildfires, droughts, epidemics, and industrial accidents, noting their severe toll on human life, public infrastructure, and national economies. Under the newly outlined framework, SCO member states agreed to prioritize humanitarian aid delivery to fellow member countries, stipulating that such assistance will be provided strictly based on an official request or with the explicit consent of the affected state. The leaders emphasized the necessity of establishing transparent, efficient, and coordinated mechanisms for mobilizing and deploying emergency resources. Where appropriate capabilities exist, humanitarian aid may also be extended to non-member countries through SCO coordination channels. However, such operations will remain contingent on voluntary participation, consensus-based decision-making, and full adherence to the domestic laws of participating states. The statement explicitly noted two key institutional proposals put forward by member governments: an initiative by the Kyrgyz Republic to establish a dedicated humanitarian assistance mechanism for emergency-affected states, and a proposal by the Russian Federation to create a resource reserve fund within the SCO to mitigate the consequences of international crises and disasters. By anchoring multilateral relief efforts in the core tenets of the SCO Charter and the consultative "Shanghai Spirit," the declaration seeks to bolster mutual solidarity while offering a flexible platform for joint training, capacity building, and rapid operational coordination across Eurasia.