Osh: Driving through the streets of Osh, a southern town of Kyrgyzstan, the impact of the conflict which began on June 10 was unavoidable. I was part of the assessment team of the ACT Alliance in Kyrgyzstan. The alliance consists of the following agencies: Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid and ICCO.
Hundreds of Uzbek owned houses were burned to the ground, mainly well-appointed houses in the middle class neighbourhoods; shops, restaurants and mini supermarkets, even schools, are fully or partially burned and looted.
There were clear signs distinguishing Kyrgyz and Uzbek houses and men sitting in front of the burned houses with an uncertain future. Most of them are afraid to bring their wives and children back to the remains of their homes. Many are now living with friends, relatives or families of acquaintances. I passed a restaurant where I had my dinner almost three years ago. It is burned and looted now.
The price of conflict in Southern Kyrgyzstan is very high. The Kyrgyz government reports, the death toll has reached 275 (with the interim president once announcing that the actual death rate will climb to 2000); 2239 people were wounded in Osh and Jalal-Abad blasts. The UN reported that 1 million people are economically affected and 400,000 are displaced. The
mistrust between the communities cannot be quantified. This mistrust is being felt at every corner of Osh.
A very senior international journalist, who has covered war and natural disasters, was in Osh for the last three days. She observes, 'this conflict is a Tsunami of hatred manifested in violent behaviour'. It is true. Having managed more than 20 major humanitarian crisis situations in 15 countries, I felt this particular conflict is something unique."
Even in the worst natural disasters, when families come back to their original houses, they might pick up some of their belongings. If nothing is left, at least they can collect photographs of their loved ones. I saw this in Sri Lanka, after the 2004 Tsunami. Here in Osh, national NGOs and international aid agencies report around 1500-2000 houses have been completely burned down, in addition to hundreds of business establishments. (The government reports 1,386 houses were burnt in Osh and Jalal-Abad). For these families, there will be nothing left to pick up from the rubble. A national aid worker (who does not want to be named), who accompanied me into the Uzbek neighbourhood said, "it is very hard to start a new life for these people".
In most natural disaster context, communities get a sense of hope to build their lives after the mourning period. Here in Osh, as of now, communities do not have this. The main reason is the mistrust between the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz.
A mother (does not want to be named) in one of the suburban districts in Osh, whose daughter was caught up in the conflict in Osh town sobbed; "my daughter could identify some of the attackers in her neighbourhood. Her teachers were part of the violent mob; some of her university classmates were there. I do not feel confident in sending my daughter back to Osh to continue her studies". She asks, "How can I send my daughter back to the university in Osh. She is going to sit with the attackers in the class. What is the guarantee for her security?"
Maharam Tilavaldieva is the Director of the local organisation Mehar Shavkat, funded by the UK Government, UKAid/ Christian Aid and other ACT Alliance members. (The ACT Alliance is an international network of faith-based charities)
Maharam says, "There is a need to build the trust among both the communities. In addition to the efforts of the government, there is a need for traditional and informal leaders to engage in dialogue to build community trust".
Thanks to her efforts of bringing the traditional leaders in Aravan district. Risking her life, she went out to the Kyrgyz and Uzbek villages in the first few days of the conflict. Her aim was to bring together the leaders to discuss the rumours surrounding the conflict. Maharam says "I had to go out to talk to people. My community members were fearing for my life. I dared to go out and talked to other community leaders".
It worked. This district did not witness serious violence. In addition to bringing communities together, Muharam took the lead in providing humanitarian assistance with the involvement of
both Kyrgyzs and Uzbeks for the families in Osh. With the support of Christian Aid/DCA/ICCO, her organisation procured rice, potatoes, carrots and onions from the local farmers and supplied to the most vulnerable families in Osh.
Maharam says, "This approach will help the local farmers and build the local economy".
Humanitarian experts in Osh and Bishkek agree that this is an innovative approach to strengthen the local market and economy. A ten-year-old local market development programme, set up by ICCO in cooperation with Helvetas enabled local organisations in Osh to carry out the assessment on the availability of the local food items. It is reported that local food items worth 1 million Euros is available within the local economy in the farming districts of Osh. I hope the international organisations and the UN systems will not import those food items that are available in the local economy. If so, this will weaken the local economy. There is a need to monitor the market dynamisms.
Tension still prevails in Osh. I spoke to the Uzbeks in Shark, one of the sensitive villages, in Nariman. The head of the district military unit was killed here along with his driver on June 14. Subsequently, there was a military raid in the village. There are reports that the villagers have not surrendered their weapons. For security reasons, I could not go inside the village. Relief items from the ACT Alliance partners were handed over to the village elders at the entrance.
One of the village elders from Shark village said, "We are not sure what is going to be for us here. Hundreds of refugees are returning from Uzbekistan. When they come here, they come to houses that are fully burned. We have to survive without having a sense of hope. In addition to this, there is a big anxiety over the tension that prevails in our village".
I met with some Kyrgyz families. They are displaced and now live in Ahthaliku village in a
temporary camp at the outskirts of Osh. Haticha Egembergieva, 51, lives in a tent with her five children. She sobs, "I could not recognise my old house. It is fully burned down. I have no idea when I will go back to my house".
Quoting the government reports, Kyrgyzstan news agency AKI Press reports on June 27, around 70,000 refugees have returned so far. Some aid workers observed the movement of people on the boarders. They say, "There is no proper government mechanism to register and document the number of persons returned". The UN OCHA reports, the Uzbek Government now estimates that there are 15,000 refugees on its territory.
In this highly instable situation, there is a big question, how to unite the divided communities now and later? While aid agencies and the government are providing humanitarian assistance, people are afraid to come out in Osh. When families want to come back and occupy their original (burned) houses, some ask, "is it safe for them to come back?". The fear for another wave of conflict cannot be ruled out.
In addition to the humanitarian needs, it is important to have a clear vision for future rehabilitation. The government has registered 2,200 tons of relief items. One of the most senior provincial authorities in Osh said: "The government has not got any rehabilitation plans. It is important to have international support to ensure security and all the more to develop the plans to rebuild the society. The government requires support for ensuring long lasting peace'.
Now Osh is a ghost town. There is a need to come out with clear rehabilitation plans. Some aid agencies report, 40,000 persons were employed in Osh town. They are unemployed now. They need to be employed soon. Aid agencies are planning cash for work programmes to employ some of them. They will be hired to clean the main market places. For this work, these labourers will get some payment. The market has started to function. But, most of the business establishments are not functioning here.
Along with the rehabilitation plans, it is important to ensure that trust among the communities is built up. As Maharam Tilavaldieva says, "let us involve the traditional leaders of both the communities along with the government and other civil society leaders. We need to activate the local market and buy food items from the local producers as far as possible'. While international aid agencies and the UN systems are planning a big humanitarian operation in Osh, I wish if they are able to listen to the voices of persons like Maharam.
On June 25, my last day in Osh, the night before the referendum on the constitution, I heard gun shots in the town. Later, some casualties were confirmed by aid agencies. I am back in Bishkek now. The referendum is taking place June 27. The interim government would like to highlight the need to have stability. Alisa Schatdanalieva, 53, casted her vote in Bishkek at 8.00 am before going for work.
She says, "I would like to see peace". Valentina, 29, had an early shift today. She says, "I would cast my vote in the evening after finishing my shift. It is important to give decision making power to the interim government. I am not sure whether the timing is appropriate". There is anxiety among some sections. Some human rights activists ask, "is this the right time for the referendum?"
Some local media report, more people are turning up for the referendum. There would be some jubilation in some corners once the result is out. I hope that the jubilation does not create another painful conflict. Can I hope to have a peaceful coexistence among the Kyrgyz and Uzbeks?
The writer is Regional Emergency Manager, Christian Aid, London.Photo Courtesy: Michael Paratharayil/Christian AidAlso See:Kyrgyz vote on new Constitution, calmlyThousands of Uzbeks flee ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan