Celebrating 25 Years of Scoop
UN Completes Shelter Project For Kyrgyz
UN Completes Shelter Project For Kyrgyz Left Homeless By Ethnic Violence
The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) today <"http://www.unhcr.org/4cf8fcf26.html">announced
the completion of its emergency shelter programme in
southern Kyrgyzstan, which provides temporary housing for
over 13,400 people whose homes were damaged or destroyed
during ethnic clashes in June.
“Getting people into proper accommodation before winter has been an important goal,” said UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards.
“Early completion of this programme has been important, and in our view owes much to the commitment and coordination there has been with our partner organizations, as well as the support of the Kyrgyz President, government and authorities.”
A total of around 2,000 homes were damaged, with nearly 1,700 being completely destroyed, in the deadly violence that rocked the southern region of the country in June. In all, the violence cost the lives of over 400 people and displaced some 375,000 more, with 75,000 briefly crossing the border into Uzbekistan.
Mr. Edwards said UNHCR was directly responsible for the construction of four out of every five of the transitional homes, which are built on the foundations of damaged and destroyed property.
“All of the transitional homes are warm and seismically safe,” he said.
The construction of the shelters was completed just ahead of the winter, allowing people to occupy the homes just a few days before nighttime temperatures are forecast to start hitting minus 10 degrees Celsius and allowing UNHCR to concentrate on other forms of aid.
“Now that this emergency shelter work is completed, our focus will shift to reconciliation, in particular promoting rule of law and human rights. The situation in this part of Kyrgyzstan remains fragile,” said Mr. Edwards.
UNHCR expects that
in 2011 it will continue to help provide better access to
rights, basic and essential services, the replacing of
personal documents and promoting livelihoods of Kyrgyz
people, at a cost of around $11.4 million.
Dec 3 2010
1:10PM
ends
ITUC: Workers Fundamental Right To Organise Is Crucial In Combating Heat Stress
New Zealand Defence Force: NZ Army Instructors March Out With Fijian Recruits For The First Time
FAO: Urges Immediate Action As New Variants Of Avian Influenza Threaten Asia And The Pacific
Alternative Jewish Voices: Jewish Groups Call On Israeli Govt To Respect International Court Ruling & Withdraw From Occupied Palestinian Territory
The Commonwealth: Commonwealth Secretary-General To Make First Official Visit To Pakistan
Deep Sea Mining Campaign: Civil Society Groups File A Formal Complaint Against The Metals Company