Brothers Adulazis, 5, Adbulbasit, 7, Asatbek, 9, and Abdulmutalib, 3, stand in the fire-gutted ruins of their home in the southern city of Jalalabad. © UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1241/Volpe
Violence between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan has led to a refugee crisis. The two Central Asian countries share a disputed border which has been the root of tensions between the two ethnic groups for decades. An estimated 300,000 Uzbeks fled their homes in Kyrgyzstan and a further 90,000 – mostly women and children – have been moved to refugee camps in Uzbekistan.
There is further worry over the conditions of the refugees as they are running out of basic supplies and 40,000 are without shelter. Many children have been forced to leave their homes and have been separated from their parents and families.
UNICEF’s responseThe United Nations is raising £47.1 million to help over a million people. Of this money, £6.3 million is for UNICEF’s work.
UNICEF is leading the emergency response for water, sanitation and hygiene and education. We have already supplied 150 tonnes of medical and education supplies to Kyrgystan to benefit 200,000 people.
In Uzbekistan, UNICEF has already delivered several truckloads of emergency supplies to refugee camps. An additional £1 million of aid will be used to help refugee children and their families.
Although there is less violence in Kyrgyzstan now, tensions are still high. UNICEF plans to open an office in Osh, the second largest city of Kyrgyzstan, as soon as it is safe enough. Additional UNICEF staff are due to arrive there soon.
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