Bishkek, June 22 2010
Current Overview
- According to official statistics today, almost 5000 refugees returned from Uzbekistan to what is left of their homes in Kyrgyzstan. ACT partners on the ground today report that yesterday there were still 20,000-30,000 refugees in the border village of Kyzyl-Kyshtak.
- According to local authorities, around 500.000 people in the area of Osh are still in need of humanitarian aid today.
- At present, according to information provided by partners in the field, affected people in the rayons (districts) of Suzak and Bazar-Korgon in the oblast (municipality) of Jalal-Abad are still not receiving humanitarian aid. Problems persist also in the Osh areas of Dostuk, Beshkapa and in Stalin (where access remains difficult because of shootings). The situation in the center of Osh is improving, however a lack of basic supplies persists in the suburban areas of Osh, such as
Geologo-Gorodok.
- Special attention is needed for Jalal-Abad and other smaller cities. While people in villages are able to draw on their own stocks of food, people in cities are completely dependent on aid deliveries, functioning shops and bazaars. Scarcity is fuelling price inflation for basic items.
- As more humanitarian aid slowly reaches the city of Osh, local people are calling for investment in the local infrastructure. They ask that food supplies be purchased from local producers to avoid destroying the local market and to support local livelihood recovery.
- The borders to Uzbekistan were still closed yesterday. At the border with Kazakhstan, cars were queuing at the border for up to six hours.
- Partners report that 10 taxis for group transport and four trolley buses are operational again in the city of Osh.
- Communities are holding reconciliation ceremonies in some districts of Osh with the sharing of food amongst neighbours.
- Despite widespread concerns, the interim government plans to go ahead with the constitutional referendum on Sunday, June 27. Mobile ballot boxes will be used. The communist party of Kyrgyzstan suggests the postponing of the constitutional referendum. Some International NGOs intend to withdraw their staff from Osh on this day. The OSCE has recalled 300 observers who were to monitor the referendum process, due to safety considerations. One hundred accredited observers remain.