U.S. Assistance in Response to the Current Humanitarian Crisis in the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

June 16, 2010

The United States is deeply concerned and is closely monitoring developments in the Kyrgyz Republic and the affected border regions of Uzbekistan and supports international efforts to facilitate peace and order and the provision of humanitarian assistance coordinated by the United Nations and other international organizations.

The United States has committed $32.267 million to programs for humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and community stabilization, and expects additional efforts to be announced in the near future.

The $32.267 million will be directed to meeting immediate humanitarian needs, providing assistance to displaced and returning families, and also to address the roots of the conflict through community development and conflict mitigation programs in the southern region of Kyrgyz Republic.

Specifically:

• $217,000 in medical and relief supplies were released by the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek and have been delivered by plane to Osh and Jalalabad by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health.
• $3.65 Million has been authorized for immediate expenditure by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for humanitarian assistance to the southern region of Kyrgyz Republic including for the purchase and delivery of medicines, medical supplies, and shelter and hygiene items. USAID additional disaster expert staff is currently in Bishkek to liaise with U.N. agencies, NGOs, USG representatives, identify emergency humanitarian needs, and coordinate relief efforts in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek and U.S. Embassy in Tashkent.
• $5.85 Million has been authorized for immediate expenditure by USAID for community improvement and stabilization projects, including a broad range of community defined projects that may include construction of small scale infrastructure, assistance to improve government operations, job creation, and education for disenfranchised populations.
• $15 Million will be provided by USAID for immediate humanitarian relief in the southern region of Kyrgyz Republic and rapid community improvement and stabilization projects throughout the country.
• The U.S. stands ready to provide up to $5 million in response to appeals from the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for activities in the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan.
• $1.5 million will be provided by the Department of State projects to support strong democratic processes and institutions, human rights protections, and an engaged civil society.
• $1 million will be used by USAID to supplement supplies of fertilizers, fuel and other inputs this summer to help safeguard the fall harvest in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• $50,000 has been allocated to respond to the refugee crisis in Uzbekistan.

As soon as the security situation allows, the U.S. Government will begin deliveries of medical and other supplies donated by U.S. corporations and charities to the Kyrgyz Republic. The Administration will also shortly seek Congressional approval for a project to engage civil society, law enforcement and the business community in addressing factors negatively affecting stability in the southern region of Kyrgyz Republic.

These commitments made in response to the current crisis are in addition to the United States’ ongoing annual assistance programs for Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan designed to achieve long term development goals.