About IFAS
IFAS was established in 1993 by the Heads of State of Central Asia in order to overcome the environmental crisis and improve the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin, recognized by the world community as one of the largest disasters of the 20th century. In 1993, the heads of states of Central Asia created the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and approved the Regulations on IFAS.
The President
Tokaev Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea
The Council of the Heads of the IFAS Founding States on the Problems of the Aral Sea Basin is the supreme body of IFAS.
Read completelyThe area of the Aral Sea basin covers about 700,000 square kilometers and includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, most part of southern Kazakhstan, and the northern part of Afghanistan. It is a kingdom of high mountains, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.
Read completelyThe Aral Sea in its original form was located in the Northern desert part of Central Asia, within Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and covered an area of 68 km2 with a volume of 1053 km3.
Read completelyLocated in the heart of Central Asia, the Aral Sea basin includes the basins of two major rivers: the Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
Read completelyThe use of water resources in Central Asia, mainly for drinking water and irrigation, began more than 6,000 years ago.
Read completelyIn former times, the unique isolation of the Aral Sea basin contributed to the development of such a richness and diversity of biota, which could be compared with Africa.
Read completelyNews
Astana, 18 September 2024 – The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) under chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Bozumbaev.
Read completelyEvents
On January 16, 2025, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Askhat Orazbay, made a working trip to Taraz, where he met with the staff of the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Water Economy and the Kazakh National University of Water Resources and Irrigation to discuss the implementation of potential joint projects. A meeting was also held with Sagit Ibatullin, who served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS from 2009 to 2012.
Read completelyEvents
The 13th meeting of the Working Group of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) took place on December 12-13, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with the support of the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP).
Read completelyEvents
On December 3, 2024, the "One Water” Summit took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During the opening ceremony, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, once again reminded the global community of the Aral Sea catastrophe from the high-profile platform.
Read completelyEvents
Ashgabat, 30 November – 1 December 2024 – The Executive Committee of the IFAS (EC IFAS) participated in the Regional Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Aral Sea Basin, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on the initiative of the Turkmen side.
Read completelyEvents
On January 16, 2025, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Askhat Orazbay, made a working trip to Taraz, where he met with the staff of the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Water Economy and the Kazakh National University of Water Resources and Irrigation to discuss the implementation of potential joint projects. A meeting was also held with Sagit Ibatullin, who served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS from 2009 to 2012.
Read completelyEvents
The 13th meeting of the Working Group of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) took place on December 12-13, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with the support of the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP).
Read completelyEvents
On December 3, 2024, the "One Water” Summit took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During the opening ceremony, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, once again reminded the global community of the Aral Sea catastrophe from the high-profile platform.
Read completelyEvents
Ashgabat, 30 November – 1 December 2024 – The Executive Committee of the IFAS (EC IFAS) participated in the Regional Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Aral Sea Basin, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on the initiative of the Turkmen side.
Read completelyPress releases
The IFAS Executive Committee is a permanent body of the Fund and is created by a decision of the IFAS President and is located on a rotation basis in the country presiding over the IFAS.
Read completelyPress releases
On June 23, 1990, an appeal to the peoples of Central Asia and the first Joint Statement by the leaders of the countries of Central Asia was announced in Almaty, where the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea region was first recognized as an acute problem in the region. In 1992, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev addressed the Heads of State of the Central Asian countries should join efforts to mitigate the negative impact of the drying up of the Aral Sea on the environment and the population of the region.
Read completelyMedia content
From sea to desert...
Tragedy of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea basin crisis is a very dramatic event of our time. In the recent past, the Aral Sea was a unique natural object - a brackish lake-sea with a volume of 1083 km3 and an area of 68 thousand km2, with high biological productivity and a unique world of living organisms.
Partners
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA © 2025
Scructure of IFAS
Council of Heads of State
IFAS board
ICSD
Revision Commission