Finland grants humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan

Press Release 193/2010
16 June 2010

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has granted 400.000 euros in humanitarian aid to help the victims of the conflict and to alleviate human suffering. The aid, intended for financial and material aid and human resources, will be channelled through the Finnish Red Cross.

The conflicts of spring 2010 in Kyrgyzstan that led to a change in power have flared up again in June 2010. Violence concentrates to the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad near the Uzbek border. There are 180 reported deaths so far, and some 1.700 people have been injured. Roughly 75.000 people have fled across the border to Uzbekistan. Moreover, the conflict has caused tens of thousands of internally displaced persons in Kyrgyzstan.

The humanitarian conditions are tough in the region. There is lack of food, water, electricity and medical supplies. The Red Cross started delivering aid immediately, and more specific need assessment is underway. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Kyrgyz Red Crescent have already launched an emergency appeal for 7.2 million euros for the region. The UN is also preparing an appeal for aid.

Finland follows the situation and will grant more aid if necessary.

Further information: Ulla-Maija Finskas, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 9 1605 6225 or +358 400 431 921, and Päivi Nevala, Adviser to Minister Väyrynen, tel. +358 9 1605 6171 or
+358 40 753 4375.