Kyrgyzstan Unrest and Refugees in Uzbekistan Situation Report #7 20 June 2010 This report was issued by ROMENACA Sub-regional Office for Central Asia. It covers the period 18 to 20 June (afternoon) 2010, local time. The next report will be issued on or around 21 June 2010. I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES Flash Appeal for Kyrgyzstan calls for US$71 million to assist over 1 million people Kyrgyz forces have begun removing barriers in Osh Official reports of returns of refugees to Kyrgyzstan Assessment mission in Uzbekistan finds Government response well organized, but additional support is needed The volume of emergency supplies arriving at Andijan is increasing II. Situation Overview Kyrgyz forces began removing barriers in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan on 20 June, but reports indicate that obstacles still lie in the streets leading to several neighbourhoods. Communities have barricaded themselves inside Osh since the outbreak of violence 10 June. Overall, the situation remains tense and humanitarian access to the most affected regions in the south continues to be limited. The Government has extended the state of emergency in the Osh province districts of Uzgen and Aravan until 25 June. The security situation is still the main obstacle for humanitarian aid delivery. According to UNOSAT’s initial satellite imagery analysis there are 2,000 to 3,000 houses destroyed in Osh, most in residential areas. There has been little cross-border movement reported in the last 24 hours. The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service has reported that a total of 4,559 ethnic Uzbek nationals of Kyrgyzstan have returned to the country – most of these were returning to Kadamjay district in Batken province on 18-19 June. The Nooken district in Jalal-Abad province has also seen returns, but numbers are not available. The ICRC has continued to provide humanitarian supplies to the population in Sura Tash (estimated 18,000 people, of whom about half are IDPs) and in Kara Suu district between Osh and the border. These include flour and oil donated by WFP. ICRC is trucking water into the area. Since 19 June, MSF has been providing health care to the approximately 8,000 IDPs at Seydikum border crossing, in Bazarkorgon district of Jalal-Abad province. On 20 June the MSF team based in Jalal-Abad also visited an IDP concentration of reportedly 6,000 people in Bekabad village near the border in Suzak district. MSF will be assessing the health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter and non-food item (NFI) needs in the two areas. In Uzbekistan, the volume of emergency supplies arriving at Andijan is rapidly increasing. Over the last few days 12 planes have arrived in Andijan with humanitarian aid, including food, shelter and non-food items. The government is stressing the need for food and water. Further requirements are still under discussion. The total number of registered refugees in Uzbekistan remains at 75,000, but according to the authorities some 3,500 refugees have registered themselves for return. UNHCR, which arrived in country on 18 June, is assessing the possibility of supporting the Government with the registration system. Most refugees that the assessment teams have spoken to confirmed that they would like to go back as soon as possible, but that they are getting messages from those left behind in Kyrgyzstan that it is unsafe and that they should remain where they are. The actual number returning may therefore be less. At the same time many people remain at the border waiting to enter. The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. The inter-agency assessment mission that went to Andijan on the 17-18 June provided key information that will form the basis for a Flash Appeal intended to augment the assistance provided by the Uzbek authorities. The assessment mission visited five sites that are sheltering refugees from Jalal-Abad. The team reports that the response from the Uzbek authorities is well organized and that refugees’ basic needs are being met. However, additional support is needed in areas such as food assistance, additional shelter materials, health and provision of water and sanitation. On 20 June (World Refugee Day) WFP and UNHCR representatives visited one refugee camp and went to the border and witnessed around 300 people (all women, children and elder men) crossing the border to Kyrgyzstan. III. Humanitarian Needs and Response Kyrgyzstan A humanitarian Flash Appeal for Kyrgyzstan launched on the 18 June in New York is calling for US$71,145,639 to fund urgent assistance for 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 765,300 persons who are direct or indirect victims of the unrest. These may be injured, people hosting IDPs or people remaining in their homes. An estimated 75,000 refugees in Uzbekistan are not included in this appeal. The main components of the appeal are food security and agriculture ($21.7 million), community restoration ($11.9 million), protection ($11.1 million) and shelter ($10.3 million). Nineteen UN agencies and NGOs are participating in the appeal. For an overview of the cluster-specific projects in the Flash Appeal issued 18 June, go to: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VDUX-86JMQV?OpenDocument&cc=kgz Health MSF confirmed that in Osh, the main city hospitals are well functioning and have relatively good stocks of supplies but peripheral health facilities are in need of support. Food Security ICRC reports that together with local volunteers, the organization has distributed two-week rations of wheat and flour to 15,000 people in Osh city and along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Local government authorities have been providing a limited amount of basic food supplies. Food assistance is organized by WFP, Save the Children and UNICEF. In addition, some private enterprises and individuals provide some food commodities on an ad-hoc basis. Water & Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ICRC reports that the organization has distributed 12,000 litres of water to some 15,000 people gathered in Sura Tash. Uzbekistan Three Russian planes with 120 metric tons of canned meat, suger and canned food for children have arrived in Andijan. Health In the areas covered by the assessment mission (information is therefore indicative only) health structures in the refugee camps were well organized with referral mechanisms to central hospitals and facilities for treating minor injuries. There is also health screening at the border of refugees. There is a major need for psycho-social support for the refugees who have suffered and witnessed high levels of violence including gender-based violence and rape. This is considered a priority need. The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. 2 UNICEF has delivered 17 trucks with emergency supplies from its emergency stocks in-country as well as three emergency health kits by air to Andijan. Additional six emergency health kits are due to be delivered by WHO on the 21 or 22 June. Shelter and non-food items (NFI) In the areas covered by the assessment mission basic shelter needs are being med with tents, however additional shading is necessary particularly for children as temperatures reach over 40 degrees Celsius. UNHCR has delivered 60 tons of supplies to Andijan and is planning an additional 120 tons. ICRC delivered by air 1,300 hygiene kits, 1,300 kitchen sets and 1,300 jerry cans. On 20 June a second ICRC plane landed with 35 metric tons of rice. Food Security In the areas covered by the assessment mission, refugees are receiving two to three meals a day with fresh meat and vegetables but food assistance is considered a priority sector. WFP has delivered 40 tons of ready-to-eat food and 518 tons of mixed food commodities. This supports 75,000 people for one day. ICRC delivered by air 38 tons of high energy biscuits. IV. Coordination Kyrgyzstan The Government has set up a coordination centre in Osh to coordinate delivery of humanitarian assistance chaired by the Interim Government’s representative on social affairs. The Ministry of Emergencies has been assigned a technical role to deliver and distribute humanitarian assistance. OCHA has deployed staff to support the UN Resident Coordinator. The American Refugee Committee has announced plans to send a relief team to the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Uzbekistan Emergency teams of UNHCR, WFP, IFRC/FACT and ICRC have arrived in Andijan to plan operations. The results of the inter-agency assessment were presented on 19 June to the UN country team and NGOs. On the same day, WFP Regional Deputy Director, UNHCR Regional Director for Central Asia and UNHCR Emergency Coordinator met with the Minister of Health and Social Affairs (representing the Government's Emergency Coordination Committee based in Andijan) to discuss the most pressing needs of the refugees. WFP, together with UNHCR, have identified a joint office space in Andijan. It will be operational from 21 June. V. Funding According to the Financial Tracking Service as of 20 June, the operation in Kyrgyzstan has received commitments for US$36,101,5401 (unchanged from 18 June) and pledges for $3,663,004 (unchanged). Uzbekistan has received commitments for $211,050 (unchanged from 18 June) and pledges for $2,442,002 (unchanged). See funding updates for both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on: http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/pageloader.aspx?page=search- reporting_display&CQ=cq1706101548138tqj51SsLS&orderby=DonorOrganizationName&showDetails=1 IFRC has allocated $154,437 from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the national Red Crescent Society in Kyrgyzstan in delivering immediate assistance in various sectors to 2,600 beneficiaries.