| UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES $71 MILLION APPEAL FOR URGENT HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN KYRGYZSTAN |
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New York, (18 June 2010) -- The United Nations and its partners in Kyrgyzstan today launched a humanitarian Flash Appeal to assist more than one million people suffering from the acute consequences of violence and displacement over the last week in Kyrgyzstan. The Appeal calls for US$71,145,639 million to provide life-saving assistance over the next six months to an estimated 300,000 people who have been internally displaced by the conflict in southern Kyrgyzstan, and up to 765,300 people who have been otherwise affected, such as those in communities hosting the displaced or in towns and villages devastated by the violent unrest. "I have been shocked by the extent of the violence and appalled by the deaths and injuries, widespread arson, sexual violence, looting of state, commercial and private property and destruction of infrastructure," said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "So the needs are very great. We can address those needs and support the Interim Government and the victims in this crisis, to which any country would struggle to respond single-handedly. But we can do little without the necessary resources. I therefore urge all donors and supporters to ensure that this Flash Appeal for Kyrgyzstan receives a generous and rapid response," Mr. Holmes added. A total of at least 375,000 people, in a country of 5.2 million, have fled the conflict in Osh and Jalal-Abad. Of these, 100,000 or more have sought refuge in neighbouring Uzbekistan. |
