CERF allocates nearly $1 million for the people affected by the civil unrest in Kyrgyzstan

29 April 2010: CERF allocates close to $1 million to the humanitarian agencies in Kyrgyzstan to help people in the wake of recent civil unrest.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will receive $405,000 to provide fertilizer for 8,000 vulnerable households in response to the acute shortages of fertilizers in the market. Some $250,000 will go to the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide essential medical supplies for up to 500 casualties of civil unrest in the country. The World Food Programme (WFP) will use $161,000 for emergency support to children's residential institutions. Finally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will receive $93,000 for food assistance and hygienic supplies to 900 refugees and asylum-seekers.

On 7 April 2010, large crowds of demonstrators broke into government buildings and forced President Bakiev to flee from Bishkek. At least 84 people died in the unrest, primarily from gunshot wounds sustained in the demonstrations. An interim government, made up of representatives of a number of opposition political parties and led by former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva took power in Bishkek, and by 9 April their supporters had taken control of all government ministries and most local authority buildings around the country.