Children hard hit by violence in Kyrgyzstan
NEW YORK (June 15, 2010) — UNICEF today reported 90 percent of the refugees from fighting in Southern Kyrgyzstan were children, women and the elderly. A rapid assessment revealed that many children suffered physical and mental violence.
More than 100,000 refugees are in Uzbekistan, most of whom are located in about 75 camps around the city of Andijan.
UNICEF has seven staff monitoring the situation of children who have fled the violence which started last Thursday. The agency will deploy as soon as possible counselors to assist with wide scale psychosocial interventions.
Today, seven UNICEF trucks carrying emergency supplies were on their way to eastern Uzbekistan to provide refugees with tents, clothes, blankets, health kits and kitchen sets. Valued at $100,000, the supplies are an initial response.
In Kyrgyzstan, the first UNICEF emergency supplies reached Osh, the city where fighting erupted last Thursday. The supplies were medicines and surgical materials to treat 1600 people. A small amount of water and sanitation supplies have also been provided.
However, in Kyrgyzstan the UN still cannot access affected areas in the south of the country due to the insecure situation.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.
UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress—the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org
CONTACT
Richard Alleyne, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9177, ralleyne@unicefusa.org
