Dear jay, A humanitarian crisis is currently unfolding in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Already 100,000 refugees have fled for safety to refugee camps in neighboring Uzbekistan. Another 200,000 - mostly women and children - are gathered on the Kyrgyz side of the border. These people are now in desperate need of food, water, medical care, shelter, and protection. The American Refugee Committee is currently assessing how we can be of help to survivors and others affected by the violence in Kyrgyzstan. Though we do not currently operate in this part of the world, ARC’s mission is to provide assistance to all people uprooted by conflict or disaster. What We’re Doing: -
We are mobilizing an assessment team to the region in the coming days to determine how we can be of help to survivors. -
In the meantime, we are in direct communication with the United Nations and other partner organizations working on the ground. -
If the people uprooted by this conflict are not receiving all the support they need, ARC will respond to fill the gaps in humanitarian assistance. If our efforts are best spent assisting groups already in Kyrgyzstan, we will support those organizations to the best of our capacity from our current program sites around the world. Here are a few recent news stories about the violence in Kyrgyzstan: NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/world/asia/17kyrgyz.html?ref=world Voice of America: http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/US-Sending-Envoy-to-Kyrgyzstan-to-Discuss-Crisis-96416059.html FOX News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/15/eu-say-unrest-kyrgyzstan-derail-referendum-elections-death-toll-rises/ We will keep you apprised of this crisis (and ARC’s response) as it develops. Sincerely, - Daniel Daniel Wordsworth
President, American Refugee Committee  | 
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