Uzbek-Kyrgyz Refugee Crisis Mobilises International Aid Response

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 29, 2010 - Since the 10th of June, when significant acts of violence
largely against Uzbeks in the Kyrgyz cities of Osh and Jalalabad began,
Uzbekistan has opened its border to accept some 80,000 refugees - mostly
women, children and the elderly - and provided significant support in terms
of humanitarian aid.

Uzbekistani NGOs and public organizations of Uzbekistan have
been dispatching high volumes of humanitarian aid for refugees. The Mehr Nuri
Charitable Foundation, The Fund Forum, The Social Initiatives Support Fund,
The Women's Council Public Association - all under the patronage of Gulnara
Karimova, have rushed 371 tons of humanitarian aid in the form of emergency
medical and food supplies - to those affected by the events in Kyrgyzstan.

Camps have been set up near the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border in the Andijan region
where refugees are being helped by young volunteers who have rallied to
collect and distribute medication and food.

According to UNHCR, the rapid flare-up of violence has led to
the displacement of an estimated 200,000 people within the country, along
with those who have fled to Uzbekistan.

The Uzbekistani people have rallied together to collect
humanitarian aid and support their neighbours, collecting food, clothes and
medicine to assist the relief effort.

The international community, including the UN, UNICEF, WFP,
UNHCR, ICRC and other organisations, has expressed its deep concern about the
situation in South Kyrgyzstan and has been making significant efforts to
provide humanitarian aid and contribute to stabilisation.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged restraint to prevent
further loss of life in light of the renewed violence in Kyrgyzstan.

Patrizia Marin, Tel: +390689826402