The Netherlands is giving €400,000 for humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan. This was announced on Wednesday by foreign minister Maxime Verhagen. Most of the money will go on food aid, via the United Nations’ World Food Programme. The remaining €100,000 will go to the International Red Cross to help ethnic Uzbek refugees in Uzbekistan.

‘Hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens are living in appalling conditions as a result of the violence that has broken out in their country. The international community has to act to show them that they have not been forgotten. Needless to say, the Netherlands wants to play its part,’ Mr Verhagen said.

There has been continuous violence in southern Kyrgyzstan for the last two weeks. The humanitarian situation gives grave cause for concern. The UN believes that more than a million people in Kyrgyzstan have been affected. 300,000 have been displaced, and a further 200,000 ethnic Uzbeks have fled to Uzbekistan.

Food security was a problem in Kyrgyzstan even before violence erupted. The political instability and violence, and the resulting flow of refugees have caused a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation and in terms of food supply, as crops cannot be sown or harvested. Many people are now dependent on food aid, and famine is looming. The World Food Programme and the UN are hoping to provide food for 560,000 people.

The Red Cross is providing emergency shelter, health care, water and sanitation for ethnic Uzbeks who have sought refuge in Uzbekistan.

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