Humanitarian Action for Children 2011 - Unicef

KyrgyzstanChildren and women in crisisIn the summer of 2010, ethnic conflict and the subsequent movements of people displacedfrom their homes jarred the state of Kyrgyzstan, the second poorest country in Central Asia. 1The fragility of the interim government has heightened the atmosphere of imminent violenceand tension among those living in the southern part of the country. People are coping withundernutrition and diarrhoeal diseases from poor sanitation created by the political crisis anddisplacement, along with ongoing energy scarcity, food insecurity and poverty. Currently,36 per cent of all children in the country live and grow in poverty, with 7 per cent living inextreme poverty. 2 During winter the absence of proper heating systems in schools and homescontributes to an increased number of acute respiratory infections and pneumonia in children.Humanitarianfunding at work:Highlights from 2010As a result of fundingthrough the Flash Appeallaunched in June 2010,UNICEF made a significantimpact on the welfare ofwomen and children affectedby multiple emergenciesin Kyrgyzstan. Emergencyhealth and nutritionsupplies were provided tohospitals in the city of Oshand in Jalal-Abad Provinceas well as to temporaryhealth centres and healthoutreach posts, servingmore than a million people.UNICEF provided ‘Sprinkles’micronutrient powders forhome nutritional fortificationand UNIMIX special food forundernourished children to43,000 children. Diarrhoeainformation and kitsbenefited 21,000 children,and family water kits wereprovided to 40,000 childrenand 10,000 women. Aflagship ‘Welcome to School’initiative provided temporarylearning spaces for 2,600children whose schools weredestroyed. Forty-five childfriendlyspaces in affectedcommunities providedaccess to psychosocialservices for more than 6,000children on a daily basis.Meeting urgent needs and building resilience in 2011In 2011, UNICEF will continue to work with the Government of Kyrgyzstan, other UN agenciesand NGOs to increase the sustainability of the emergency response and to strengthenthe country’s emergency preparedness mechanisms. Part of this work is taking the lead inthe WASH and education clusters, and in the nutrition, child protection and gender-basedviolence sub-clusters. Efforts are designed to improve the welfare of more than 1.3 millionwomen and children.• To make up for nutrient deficiencies, 81,000 children (6–24 months old) will receive essentialmicronutrient supplements, with 90 per cent coverage in Osh and Jalal-Abad Provinces.• To decrease the high rates of diarrhoeal illness and acute respiratory infection, 2,500 medicalstaff will be trained on prevention, management and treatment of these conditions.• To address urgent needs for safe water and sanitation, 70,000 students in Osh and Jalal-AbadProvince will have improved sanitation facilities in their schools.• 91,000 schoolchildren will have access to a safe learning environment and peace-buildingeducation through the ‘Welcome to School’ initiative.• Around 15,000 children and youth will benefit from protection and psychosocial supportfound in 36 child-friendly centres.Funding requirements for 2011To make significant strides in stabilizing the welfare of women and children in Kyrgyzstan,particularly their nutritional status, access to safe water, and education and protection, UNICEFis requesting US$6,996,000 to carry out its planned activities.More information on 2010 results and humanitarian action planned in 2011 can befound at www.unicef.org/hac2011 or the country office website at www.unicef.org/kyrgyzstan.1. United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2010 – The Real Wealth of Nations:Pathways to human development, UNDP, New York, 2010, p. 145.2. Chzhen, Yekaterina,‘Child Poverty in Kyrgyzstan: Analysis of the Household Budget Survey – A report forUNICEF’, Working Paper, no. EC 2410, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, Heslington, UK, January2010, p. 3.UNICEF EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR 2011 (in US dollars)Total $6,996,0001,500,000 Health1,450,000 Child protection 1,154,000 Education312,000 Nutrition2,450,000 WASH130,000Cluster coordination30 2011 UNICEF Humanitarian Action FOR CHILDREN | www.unicef.org/hac2011Kyrgyzstan