CERF allocates $9.1 million for victims of ethnic conflict in Kyrgyzsgtan
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People affected by the conflict in Kyrgyzstan[Photo: UN]
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28 June 2010: Close to $3.5 million has been allocated to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for emergency assistance of 300,000 IDPs. More than $2.8 million will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) for emergency food support for 240,000 people affected by the conflict, logistics coordination for relief operations, and emergency communications services. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will use close to $2 million to provide essential life-saving health materials and services for 1.2 million women and children, children protection, and WASH services for 350,000 people. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will use over $400,000 for the identification of and response to protection and human rights concerns. The joint programme by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNICEF will receive more than $262,000 for the identification of and response to the needs of 200,000 IDPs. Finally, the World Health Organization (WHO) will use close to $260,000 to strengthen disease surveillance, early warning mechanism to collect and analyze health information and coordination of humanitarian health assistance for 1.2 million affected people.
On 10 June, a wave of deadly violence began in the multiethnic city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan. A series of incidents seem to have provoked a rise in tension between the ethnic Uzbek and Kyrgyz communities in the city. On the night of 10-11 June, several thousand youth confronted each other in the city centre with sticks, steel rods and guns. Over the course of several days, the violence continued in the city, and spread to the surrounding district of Kara Suu and neighboring Jalalabat. As of 16 June, the Ministry of Health had recorded 187 deaths in the conflict, with 1966 people injured. However, senior government figures and the ICRC have stated that the true number of casualties is likely to be several times higher than this, with many corpses buried without notification of the authorities, or still lying on the streets. Many cases of sexual violence against women and girls and boys have also been reported. In addition, the areas affected have seen widespread arson and looting.
The conflict has had acute and pressing humanitarian consequences for over 1 million people. An estimated 375,000 people have fled the conflict in Osh and Jalalabat. Of these, approximately 75,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Uzbekistan. An estimated 40,000 internally displaced persons need acute help with their shelter, food, water and protection needs. A further estimated 260,000 IDPs living with host families require support to facilitate their stay. Several thousand people injured in the violence need support with their healthcare needs. Meanwhile, the conflict has also affected the health and livelihoods strategies of people living in conflict areas who have remained in their homes. All these groups require psychosocial support to address what has occurred since 10 June.
[Last updated: 8 July 2010]
CERF allocates nearly $1 million for the people affected by the civil unrest in Kyrgyzstan.
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A child in Kyrgyzstan
[Photo: UNICEF]
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29 April 2010: CERF allocates close to $1 million to the humanitarian agencies in Kyrgyzstan to help people in the wake of recent civil unrest.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will receive $405,000 to provide fertilizer for 8,000 vulnerable households in response to the acute shortages of fertilizers in the market. Some $250,000 will go to the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide essential medical supplies for up to 500 casualties of civil unrest in the country. The World Food Programme (WFP) will use $161,000 for emergency support to children’s residential institutions. Finally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will receive $93,000 for food assistance and hygienic supplies to 900 refugees and asylum-seekers.
On 7 April 2010, large crowds of demonstrators broke into government buildings and forced President Bakiev to flee from Bishkek. At least 84 people died in the unrest, primarily from gunshot wounds sustained in the demonstrations. An interim government, made up of representatives of a number of opposition political parties and led by former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva took power in Bishkek, and by 9 April their supporters had taken control of all government ministries and most local authority buildings around the country.
[Last Update: 6 May 2010]