Growing refugee crisis in Kyrgyzstan

Save the Children are preparing to provide emergency supplies to children and families caught up in a wave of ethnic violence and arson in Kyrgyzstan that has left parts of the country in ruins.

Ethnic Uzbek refugees, who fled the violence in Kyrgyzstan, wait to cross the border to Uzbekistan near the village of Jalal-Kuduk..

The fighting has left more than 100 people dead and around 1,500 injured. The southern city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan has been without gas and water for the last four days.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Uzbeks are fleeing to Uzbekistan. Those who make it across the Uzbek border are living in makeshift camps. Women and children form the majority of refugees — they need access to food and other aid as they have left with very few possessions. Some families have become separated. 

A mass revolt in April led to a new government, but tensions have remained high. The violence began in Osh and spread to Jalalabad, a city further to the north in Kyrgyzstan. Thousands of families are trapped in besieged enclaves in both cities. Thousands have suffered from burns, gunshot, knife and blunt force wounds.

“Conditions are dire. People are massed together with families or in groups. Temperatures are in the 80s. Food is short supply, and the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better,” said Will Lynch, Save the Children’s director for Central Asia. “If the violence spreads, we can expect a major displacement crisis — with tens of thousands of children and adults left destitute, homeless and, possibly, stateless for months, if not longer.”

What we’re doing.  We have been working in the region since 1992. Our staff are accounted for and currently safe in our office in Osh, although a number are living behind barricades. We have sent an assessment team to Osh and another team will go to Uzbekistan in the coming days.

We expect to provide emergency relief supplies, child protection programs and health services as the situation for the displaced population becomes clearer.

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