Ethnic riots cause thousands of Uzbek refugees to flee Kyrgyzstan
by Zuzana Zelenakova
Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia, reminds of one big battlefield these days. For the past few days the country has been experiencing the worst ethnic unrest in about 20 years. Rioters caused more than 75,000 members of Uzbek ethnic minority to flee the country. More than 100 people were killed and 1,200 injured so far, the government informed Sunday. Rioting mobs of Kyrgyz men have been attacking Uzbeks and destroying their homes and businesses. The crowds already took control of the second largest city, Osh and still there was no sight of military troops or police. It was suggested that the riots that began on Thursday night are aimed at undermining a new interim government le! d by former foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva. In April, series of demonstrations and riots occurred across Kyrgyzstan that subsequently led to the ousting of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The reason behind the April unrest was growing discontent with Bakiyev´s administration, rising prices and rather evident economic stagnation. In the end, Bakiyev was forced to flee the country and, currently, he and his family are guests in Belarus. Interim President Roza Otunbayeva blames Bakiyev for inciting the current ethnic violence in an attempt to disrupt constitutional referendum scheduled on June 27 as well as elections in October. "Bakiyev's entourage has funded and organized these riots," said Otunbayeva´s deputy Omurbek Tekebayev. As far as the members of the Uzbek minority are concerned, Uzbekistan provided shelter for them and urged Kyrgyzstan to restore order in the country. However, Uzbekistan is unlikely to interfere in the conflict. Otunbayeva already asked Rus! sia for help, but Kremlin declined stating that "It's a domest! ic confl ict, and Russia now doesn't see conditions for taking part in its settlement." It promised to deliver humanitarian supplies and help with evacuating victims though.
related story (sgx17563): http://www.france24.com/en/20100612-kyrgyzstan-osh-security-...
| by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv) |
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Nonprofits are striving to aid in this crisis!
International Medical Corps Responding to Refugee Crisis at Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Border
LOS ANGELES, CA, June 15, 2010
International Medical Corps is preparing to respond to the refugee crisis on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as an estimated 80,000 ethnic Uzbeks – many of them women and children and many suffering gunshot wounds - have fled violence and poured into makeshift refugee camps.
“We are extremely concerned that tens of thousands of people are in desperate need of medical care, in addition to basics such as food and clean water,” said Malika Mirkhanova, International Medical Corps Regional Coordinator for Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, who is on the ground in Uzbekistan assessing the situation. “There are already reports of dysentery spreading among children in the camps. The Uzbek government is struggling to address the needs but has been overwhelmed by the enormous population influx. The greatest need right now is for food items, hygiene kits and medical supplies.”
While the official death toll stands at 125, with nearly 1,500 wounded, relief workers estimate that many hundreds have been killed.
Thus far, only the International Committee for the Red Cross and UN agencies have been permitted access to the Feghana Valley, as all borders to Kyrgyzstan have been closed.
Since its founding in 1984, International Medical Corps has delivered more than $1 billion in of emergency relief and health care services to devastated population in 50 countries, including during the Rwandan genocide, the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti.
Since its inception more than 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit: www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org
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