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Visiting the homes of Kyrgyzstan’s Displaced: Next time I’ll make you tea
Fri, 08/06/2010 - 09:00
Like many businessmen in Jalal-Abad, Ilias* had invested his savings in his home. He had an indoor jacuzzi, a full modern-style kitchen and a personal library of over 2000 volumes, largely religious books. Today the only evidence of where the library once stood is a charred space that has more ash then other parts of Ilias’ burned out house.
Kyrgyzstan: Time for the OSCE to live up to its promise
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 17:01This Thursday is an important date for the 58 members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, (OSCE). Tomorrow OSCE will decide whether to approve the immediate deployment and funding for 52 police advisors to Kyrgyzstan. This, coupled with the quick recruitment and deployment of experienced police professionals, could provide a tangible lifeline to hold south and north together and to rekindle hope for impartial justice. It could bring the return of rule of law to the conflict-plagued people of the south Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan: Rumors and Fears Rule the Region
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 14:41
In visits with displaced Kyrgyz and Uzbek families, we were met time and time again with frightened people who were not sure what was happening but who believed that their lives were being threatened by the other ethnic group and that their government was not doing enough to help them. Many Kyrgyz and Uzbek families that lived in mixed neighborhoods fear attacks and want to move to mono-ethnic neighborhoods.
Osh: Unexpected Violence Ravages a Community
Sun, 07/04/2010 - 09:24
The acrid smell of smoke and piles of rubble characterize once vibrant Uzbek communities in Osh. In the neighborhoods surrounding Osh's famous mountain in the city, Uzbek homes and businesses are now burnt-out shells or piles of rubble. Family members sit on the sidewalk in front of their homes, some pausing from shoveling out broken plaster, others awaiting the delivery of plastic tarps or tents so that they might camp out on their property.
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.