UNICEF in ActionWithin UN Country Team Contingency and Preparedness Plan, UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan is in a constant state of preparedness to protect the basic rights of children and women in an emergency and to ensure that their essential needs are met, effectively, dependably and in a timely manner, according to our mandate. UNICEF is also a part of the Joint UN Project to support the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency for enhancing coordination for disaster response in the Kyrgyz Republic. The main areas of UNICEF assistance in emergencies are: water and sanitation; counselling; education and nutrition for children; health services for women and children; vitamin supplementation and immunisation.
In response to the deadly violence in the multiethnic cities of Osh and Djalal-Abad in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010, UNICEF responded by providing life saving emergency health and nutrition supplies and family water kits, by establishing Child Friendly Spaces in 45 affected communities, providing psychosocial support to women and children, and developing a ‘Welcome to School’ campaign, ensuring access to a safe learning environment.
Over 1 million people in the south benefited from health and nutrition interventions including improved quality of management of diarrhea, supplies of ‘sprinkles’ and UNIMIX powder, special support for mothers and children living with HIV, and through a nationwide polio vaccination campaign. Temporary learning spaces equipped with furniture, teaching and recreational materials have been established for children from destroyed schools, ensuring the continuation of schooling for affected students.
Optimism before school starts after the summer Reaching out to children in the South - Polio immunization in rural Kyrgyzstan Child-friendly spaces for reading, drawing, playing together without fear After violence tears apart communities in Kyrgyzstan, a brittle calm settles in Diary Notes from the Trip to the Affected Areas in Kyrgyzstan UNICEF helps displaced families start afresh after violence in Osh For displaced families in Kyrgyzstan, a difficult road back from the brink Amidst violence in southern Kyrgyzstan, a mother and son seek refuge There remain many issues to address, as there is an acute need to strengthen the capacity of medical staff and to pre-position essential life saving medicines and equipment. More efforts are also required to prevent water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases, and we will continue to support the Ministry of Education and Science in their efforts to establish peace and tolerance in schools nationwide and combat the issue of violence in schools.
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