Rebuilding Kyrgyzstan's Southern Capital
| Publisher | Institute for War and Peace Reporting |
| Author | Aytunuk Nurdinova |
| Publication Date | 29 May 2015 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RCA Issue 762 |
| Cite as | Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Rebuilding Kyrgyzstan's Southern Capital, 29 May 2015, RCA Issue 762, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/556d7aef4.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
This is the third in a series of radio reports to mark the fifth anniversary of ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan, in which more than 400 people died in a few days in June 2010.
Once order was restored, the authorities set about rebuilding properties in Osh and Jalalabad that had been attacked and torched, constructing new housing blocks, laying roads and installing electricity lines and other infrastructure.
"After these tragic events, the city [Osh] was restored and it began leading a normal life," political analyst Igor Shestakov recalled in an interview for IWPR. "But of course, given the fact that the infrastructure of our southern capital had been in a fairly sorry state over a long period, it would be wrong to expect miracles or dramatic progress in the space of one, two or three years. But I think the most important thing is that a trend has been started for the national and local authorities to pay attention and see that Osh gets modern infrastructure."
Shestakov sees the reduction in poverty levels that has taken place in recent years as crucial to long-term stability.
"The low standard of living is the cause of many of our conflicts. The more jobs there are, the fewer conflicts there will be," he said.
