International Humanitarian City Supports Emergency Response to Kyrgyzstan Dubai, 21 June 2010 - U.N. agencies are benefiting from their emergency response depots based at the International Humanitarian City (IHC), Dubai, to send humanitarian aid to those affected by the civil conflict in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. The conflict began when violence broke out on 11 June in the city of Osh between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. Ethnic tension has been growing in southern Kyrgyzstan following the overthrow of the previous government in early April. It is estimated that since then, more than 300,000 people have had to leave their homes and flee to neighboring Uzbekistan, resulting in a serious humanitarian crisis. UN agencies responded immediately to the crisis, mobilizing aid and relief from different channels. The emergency response depots based in IHC Dubai were among the first responders to the crisis, given their geographic advantage. Ms. Makiya Al Hajiri, CEO of IHC, commented, “We are all concerned by the developing humanitarian crisis in Central Asia, and IHC will continue to offer whatever support necessary to ensure that relief material and aid can reach those affected at the earliest.” As of June 20, the UN refugee agency UNHCR has sent a total of 8 air charters with tents, blankets, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting and collapsible jerry cans for 60,000 persons displaced by the conflict in Kyrgyzstan. Of these, 6 flights were sent to Andijan in Uzbekistan and 2 flights to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. Also, the World Food Programme (WFP) started delivering 110 tons of high energy biscuits to Osh and Andijan, in Uzbekistan, starting June 20th from the agency’s emergency warehouse– enough to provide daily rations for 206,000 refugees and displaced people. High energy biscuits are used in the first stages of relief operations when people are without cooking facilities and transport is difficult. Photo: Shipment being loaded at the UNHCR warehouses in IHC, Dubai About IHC: International Humanitarian City (IHC) is a first-of-its kind global humanitarian hub, which aims to facilitate aid and development efforts by providing local and international humanitarian actors with facilities and services specifically designed to meet their needs. An independent free zone authority, IHC consolidates Dubai as an essential link in the humanitarian value chain. IHC is a non-religious, non-political and non-profit organisation. For more information, visit this site. For further information, please contact: Rania Hammad Marketing Manager International Humanitarian City T : +971 4 368 0202 D : +971 4 368 0293 F : +971 4 368 1099 E : rania.hammad@ihc.ae