Press Releases

Visit of the Regional Representative of the UN Refugee Agency to the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek, 20 October 2011 - On 17-20 October Mr. Saber Azam, the Regional Representative/Regional Coordinator of the UN Refugee Agency for Central Asia paid a working visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

In order to review progress of the UNHCR peace building operation in the South of Kyrgyzstan, the UNHCR Regional Representative, accompanied by Mr. Hans Friedrich Schodder, UNHCR Representative in Kyrgyzstan, visited project sites in Osh and Jalalabad regions, met with authorities, civil society partners as well as people who benefit from UNHCR assistance.

With the Minister of Emergency Situations B. Borbiev, the Commander of the Border Forces, and First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee of National Security Z. Tilenov, and other important partners, Mr. Azam agreed on practical ways on how to further strengthen UNHCR support to emergency preparedness and response, protection and assistance to displaced persons as well as migration management in the Kyrgyz Republic.

UNHCR opened offices in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1995. Its current main objectives are to monitor and support Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of its commitment to protect refugees, to help in preventing and reducing statelessness, and to assist all victims of the violence of June 2010, supporting reconciliation and sustainable peace.

The UN Refugee Agency provided life-saving emergency relief to tens of thousands of people affected by the violence of June 2010. With the completion of the UNHCR emergency transitional shelter project, UNHCR and partners ensured that all, over 15,000 persons, who had lost their houses received warm, seismically safe and culturally-acceptable accommodation before the onset of winter 2010/2011.

The Regional Representative thanked Minister J. Satybaldiev, Director of the State Directorate for Reconstruction and Development of Osh and Jalalabad, for the excellent cooperation and support in the shelter project and re-affirmed continuing cooperation to ensure full registration and documentation of all shelters built last year, during the first phase of reconstruction.

In 2011-2012 UNHCR continues important protection and assistance activities that support the people, government and authorities in strengthening equal access to rights and services, rule of law, as well as the restoration of and reconciliation between communities.

As part of its peace building efforts the UN refugee agency is also supporting community based quick impact projects. More than one hundred such projects in rehabilitation of infrastructure, livelihoods and community development have been completed or ongoing in rural and urban communities of Batken, Jalalabad and Osh over the last twelve months.

Having visiting several UNHCR projects the Regional Representative lauded the tangible positive impact they make in reducing tensions and potential sources of conflict. “I saw remarkable progress” Mr Azam said. “However, much more needs to be done, especially in the field of reconciliation and the strengthening of rule of law. UNHCR remains committed to support Kyrgyzstan on its way to peace and prosperity.”