On the briefing devoted to the events in southern regions of Kyrgyzstan

On June 15, 2010 at the UN Office in Tashkent it was held a briefing for the diplomatic corps, international organizations, foreign and national media, in order to inform them on the situation of refugees from Kyrgyzstan, as well as on the measures taken by the Uzbek government to provide them with necessary assistance.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Mr. A.Kamilov in detail brings to the attention of participants of the briefing with the situation in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan. It was emphasized that events in a neighbouring country have large-scale and unprecedented nature, characterized by extreme cruelty, and evaluated by many observers as a massacre, ethnic cleansing, genocide. The mass bloodshed has an organized character, and this fact admitted by the interim government of Kyrgyzstan.

Thus, the interim government of Kyrgyzstan has demonstrated the absolute powerlessness in front of the actions of bandits. There is no doubt that the events in Kyrgyzstan are caused by the third force, as evidenced by the presence of large quantities of weapons, the use of mercenaries, professional snipers. The special cartridges are used, allowing to set fire to houses from a big distance.

Currently, the number of refugees is more than 75 thousand. The Government of Uzbekistan provides them with necessary assistance - only for the first three days it was provided necessary assistance to more than 1.5 billion soums.

Uzbekistan continues to provide assistance to refugees, but their number is growing. Considering the serious difficulties, the Uzbek side has sent an official address to the UN Secretary General and other international organizations in order to bring humanitarian aid.

Unfortunately, currently there is no focus of the humanitarian assistance from international organizations, which mainly settles in Bishkek.

Cruelty in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan concerning to the Uzbek community reaffirm international organizations, such as the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who personally saw everything.

The Permanent Coordinator of UN in Uzbekistan Mrs. A. Nirodi expressed serious concern of UN system in connection with events in southern Kyrgyzstan, as a result of which tens of thousands of people were forced to seek safety at the territory of Uzbekistan.

She noted that the UN highly appreciates the quick and decisive action taken by the Government of Uzbekistan to assist people crossing the border of the republic and provide them with humanitarian needs.

A. Nirodi also informed of the visit, together with the heads of UNICEF and WHO, the border zone, and several camps in Andijan, the huge number of refugees, mostly women and children crossing the border, about the wounded people whom receiving assistance in the hospitals of Andijan.

She stressed that the Government of Uzbekistan provides humanitarian support to refugees staying in the many camps that are deployed within a few hours. At the same time, refugees continue to cross the border.

Concerning participation of the UN, A.Nirodi has the following data:

- UNICEF has sent seven cargo containers with the main objects: kitchen utensils, blankets, hygiene kits, water containers, etc.;

- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offered humanitarian assistance, and the Government of Uzbekistan adopted the proposal;

- WHO has sent three cargo containers with blankets and will provide medical assistance;

- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UN World Food Programme are considering ways to assist. It is expected arrival of two OCHA staff to evaluate proposals for funding.

The head of UNICEF in Tashkent - Jean-Michel Delmotte informed that he had been on the border with Mrs.A.Nirodi and other colleagues, where he had the opportunity to see crossing the refugees of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, among whom there were mainly women and children.

"During the visit to the border I witnessed that refugees receive all necessary assistance from Uzbekistan, namely, security, shelter, meals, etc., which is very important to support the refugees for the moment," he said. Head of UNICEF also highly appreciated the efforts of Uzbekistan to support the refugees.

He noted that some refugees were able to capture the atrocities taking place in Osh, the photo and video. All this will be a strong psychological trauma for the people.

According to him, now 9 employees of UNICEF are in Andijan, in order to assist on site. Large flow of refugees will load for Uzbekistan to provide them with all necessary assistance.

He added that the refugees are much more than imagined, and UNICEF hopes to provide them with timely provision of international assistance. As a manifestation of solidarity, he cited the example of financial assistance of the U.S. Embassy.

The representative of WHO M.Tayad highly appreciated the "well-spent and highly organized" measures of the Republic of Uzbekistan for providing medical and psychosocial assistance to the refugees from Kyrgyzstan. "We have seen how the Uzbek side selflessly providing medical assistance to refugees. However, stocks of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan excised. Therefore, steps need to think long-term assistance to refugees».

«I was shocked by a terrible picture, when the crossed the border two young girls who had been brutally raped by group of bandits. After that they have lost the meaning of further life. According to the information, there are 25 similar cases, i.e. rapes are not individual incidents», he said. In this regard, the head of the WHO stressed the necessity to provide the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan.

M.Tayad once again stressed the importance of strengthening international assistance to Uzbekistan.

During the briefing, the participants were given video and photo materials about brutal murders of the Uzbek community in Kyrgyzstan by gangs.