Irish Aid has responded with an allocation of €250,000 to support the displaced population in Kyrgyzstan through the UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency.    UNHCR is delivering vital lifesaving humanitarian relief items to thousands of people.  working closely with the authorities and partners. A member of Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps has been deployed to work as a Protection Officer with the UNHCR.

Irish Aid has also 5 large water tanks and over 2,500 blankets from its depot in Brinidisi, Italy in a joint donor airlift of emergency relief supplies to the region to assist refugees from Kyrgyzstan. 

Background

These emergency interventions were in response to the plight of thousands of people who were forced to flee their homes following the outbreak of violence which began late in the evening of 10 June in the city of Osh.  Since then the violent clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks has, to date, resulted in a fragile and volatile southern Kyrgyzstan.   Though the security situation is now improving, the unrest has resulted in 294 official facilities (though Interim Government has indicated that figure may be much higher), almost 4,500 requiring medical assistance and 300,000 IDPs in Kyrgyzstan. 

75,000 refugees who had fled to neighbouring Uzbekistan have returned also, with only 395 remaining in Uzbekistan who require hospital treatment.  According to the latest report from UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there is widespread destruction in several neighbourhoods of Osh, with around 95% of houses having been set on fire.  People are still deeply traumatized by the violence of earlier this month.  Many here still sleep in the open, often within completely destroyed homes.  UNHCR was the first humanitarian team to visit the area.  There are no services such as water and electricity.  People reported being deprived of health services and many have lost identity documents, either in looting or fires. Families who are hosting people are under significant pressure and also require support.

Created 07.07.10