UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday that the UN is launching a $71 million emergency appeal for humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan, where 400,000 people have been displaced due to political-ethnic violence.

“At this very moment, [the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] is launching a $71 million Flash Appeal for Kyrgyzstan,” Ban said. “Mr. John Holmes is now meeting with Member States; an appeal for Uzbekistan will be issued early next week.” Holmes is the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Ban continued, saying that the shortages of food, water, and electricity have affected the region due to looting, lack of supply, and restrictions on movement. Hospitals and other institutions in the area are running low on medical supplies.

“I have been in touch with the Interim President [of Kyrgyzstan], Ms. Otunbaeva, with President Karimov of Uzbekistan, and many others to explore options for restoring order, preventing further loss of life, and coordinating humanitarian assistance,” Ban said. “I will remain actively engaged to support efforts at normalizing the situation.”

Clashes between the majority Uzbeks and the minority Kyrgyz people escalated into heavy fighting last week, leaving at least 200 people dead and more than 2,000 others injured. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher, however. The violence also forced over 100,000 refugees across the border into Uzbekistan.

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