New York, Jun 14 2010 1:10PM
United Nations relief agencies are dispatching emergency aid and staff to
Central Asia, where tens of thousands of refugees have crossed into
Uzbekistan as they flee several days of deadly ethnic clashes in southern
Kyrgyzstan.
More than 75,000 ethnic Uzbeks are estimated to have fled Kyrgyzstan since
Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) reported today, citing figures from the
Government of Uzbekistan.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(<"http://www.unhcr.org/4c163c566.html">UNHCR) said it is preparing to
deploy both aid supplies and staff with experience in dealing with
emergencies, such as field officers and logistics experts, to help the new
arrivals in Uzbekistan. The aid will be sent from the agency's stockpile in
Dubai.
More than 110 people are confirmed to have died and at least 1,300 others
are injured as a result of the clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks that
erupted last week. The southern Kyrgyz city of Osh has been the worst
affected by the violence, but there have been reports of widespread killing,
looting and marauding in Jalalabat and several rural districts as well.
OCHA reported that the majority of residents in the ethnic Uzbek
neighbourhoods of Osh has either abandoned their homes or barricaded
themselves inside.
"We are very grateful for the willingness of the Uzbek authorities to
welcome and receive people fleeing violence in Kyrgyzstan," said António
Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in a statement.
"We have agreed with the Uzbek Government to support their efforts and
assist tens of thousands, mostly women and children, seeking safety."
Kyrgyzstan has been wracked by unrest this year and in early April a violent
uprising ousted the then president Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged local and national
authorities in Kyrgyzstan "to take swift and decisive action to protect
citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origin, and curb the violence."
Ms. Pillay was she was disturbed by the scale of the violence and the
inter-ethnic nature of the attacks.
"It seems indiscriminate killings, including of children, and rapes have
been taking place on the basis of ethnicity. This is a very dangerous
situation, given the ethnic patchwork in this part of Kyrgyzstan, as well as
in neighbouring areas of Uzbekistan.
"It has been known for many years that this region is a potential
tinder-box, and for that reason it is essential that the authorities act
firmly to halt the fighting – which appears to be orchestrated, targeted and
well planned – before it spreads further."
Some media reports have suggested that authorities in southern Kyrgyzstan
have adopted a shoot-to-kill policy in the wake of the violence, and Ms.
Pillay stressed that this is not the answer.
"A state of emergency has been declared, and this is probably a necessary
decision in the circumstances. However, the right to life and the right not
to be tortured cannot be set aside during an emergency. Security forces need
to be given strict instructions to avoid unnecessary force, and to steer
clear of taking sides in the conflict, while still doing their utmost to
bring an end to the violence."
The UN Children's Fund
(<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_53967.html">UNICEF) has also issued a
statement voicing deep concern about the situation in southern Kyrgyzstan.
"UNICEF has received distressing reports, including photographs, of children
being displaced, traumatized, separated from family members, and even being
killed," the agency said.
"UNICEF urges all parties to take all necessary measures to protect
children, who are always the most vulnerable in conflicts, and stresses that
no children should be involved in conflict or participate in
demonstrations."
Over the weekend, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is conducting an
official visit to Africa, conferred by telephone on the situation in
Kyrgyzstan with Kanat Sauabayev, the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation (OSCE).
Miroslav Jenca, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head
of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia
(<"http://unrcca.unmissions.org/">UNRCCA), visited Osh a week ago and is
also holding discussions with the envoys of the OSCE and the European Union
(EU).
Jun 14 2010 1:10PM
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