In the aftermath of deadly clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks that killed up to 2,000 people and forced an estimated 500,000 to flee their homes in southern Kyrgyzstan, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is partnering with other relief organizations to send much needed humanitarian aid to affected areas.

During this emergency response, ADRA is working with ACT Alliance, to provide essential relief aid to 6,100 beneficiaries. ACT is an alliance of 100 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance and development. In addition, ADRA is delivering hygiene kits to 500 families in the cities of Osh and Jala-Abad as a result of a partnership with United Kingdom-based HelpAge International. To further assist in the response, ADRA is preparing 2,000 additional hygiene kits for distribution.

The ethnic violence erupted on June 10 and lasted five days during which time mobs burned down villages and looted homes. In the city of Osh, where more than half a million people live, 80 percent of its infrastructure was destroyed. The attacks displaced an estimated 400,000 people and caused 100,000 others to cross the border into Uzbekistan, according to media reports.

Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous and landlocked former Soviet republic that lies in Central Asia, has a population of 5.4 million and is bordered by China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

ADRA is a global non-governmental organization providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.