Press Releases

UNHCR provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic

Osh city - Today, on 23 August 2011 the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) handed the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic generators and one Niva car. This provision of technical assistance aims to improve and modernize the technical capacity of the ministry and its divisions in the South of the country.

During the handover ceremony UNHCR Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Hans Friedrich Schodder, and Deputy Ministry, Mr. Mukambet Kasymaliev, noted the long-term and productive cooperation between their agencies in providing relief assistance to victims of various emergency situations. For instance, when the earthquake of 20 July affected Batken and Osh province and left two thousand people without shelter UNHCR immediately provided 250 tents to the victims. Over the last few years' of cooperation between the agencies, UNHCR has provided technical assistance to the ministry worth more than 2 million som.

Strengthening of emergency preparedness and capacity building is a key factor in UNHCR's work in Central Asia, particularly in Kyrgyzstan. When there is still a possibility of an emergency situation which may cause mass displacement of people UNHCR continues providing assistance to various institutions in Kyrgyzstan.

Today UNHCR also handed technical assistance to the representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the South of the country and Osh city airport, which is aimed to strengthen their emergency preparedness as well.

For over 15 years UNHCR actively cooperates with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic assisting refugees, internally displaced and stateless people including providing relief items in emergency situations.