Published: 17 June 2010
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal for 4.15 million Swiss francs (3.7 million USD, 3 million euros) in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Uzbekistan. An experienced team of relief experts is on its way to the central Asian country to assist the staff of the Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan in their response to the crisis.
At least 70,000 adults and countless children have already entered Uzbekistan, fleeing ethnic conflict in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where some 300,000 more people are displaced. Hundreds of people have been killed in the clashes, with many more injured. Hundreds of thousands of people are in need of urgent humanitarian aid; the priorities being shelter, water, food and medical care.
The relief operation will support 24,000 of the most vulnerable over the next six months. Drina Karahasanovic, the IFRC’s regional representative for central Asia said: “The humanitarian situation is very alarming. Thousands of people need food, shelter, water and healthcare immediately. The weather is scorching, and strong thunderstorms are predicted. We are especially worried about the wounded, the elderly, children and pregnant women. Urgent assistance is needed to stop diseases erupting, and to help people survive from day to day,” she continued.
“ The Uzbek Red Crescent has been working round the clock since the earliest hours of this crisis, putting up tents and distributing food, mattresses and clothes. Their colleagues in Kyrgyzstan are distributing aid in hospitals together with the ICRC.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross has already landed three relief flights in Uzbekistan and is doing further assessments of what it calls “an immense humanitarian crisis”. The Turkish Red Crescent and the Iranian Red Crescent Societies are also planning to send assistance.
Funds will be released from DREF, the International Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, to support the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan.