VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEK #0037 0101149
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101149Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0541
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 2140

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000037 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK), EUR/ACE AND PRM/ENSA 
USAID FOR OFDA - ROB ANDREW AND ALEX MAHONEY 
ASTANA PLEASE PASS TO ALMATY USAID OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR YOVANOVICH DECLARES DISASTER IN OSH 
OBLAST, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: AMBASSADOR MARIE YOVANOVICH 
DECLARES A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN THE OSH OBLAST LOCATED IN 
SOUTHERN KYRGYZ REPUBLIC FOLLOWING AN EARTHQUAKE ON DECEMBER 
26, 2007, AND THREE ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKES ON JANUARY 1, 
¶2008.  THE AMBASSADOR AND THE REGIONAL MISSION REQUEST THAT 
DCHA/OFDA IMMEDIATELY COMMIT USD 50,000 TO PURCHASE BUILDING 
SUPPLIES AND LABOR TO REPAIR SELECTED SCHOOLS THAT WERE MADE 
UNSAFE IN THE AFFECTED AREA.  END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. 
 
¶2.   BACKGROUND: ON DECEMBER 26, 2007 AN EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 
6.0 OCCURRED IN THE SOUTH OF KYRGYZSTAN, IN A REMOTE AREA 
SOME 30 KILOMETRES FROM THE CITY OF OSH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO 
HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE.  ON JANUARY 1, 2008 THREE 
SEPARATE EARTHQUAKES, OF WHICH THE LARGEST ONE WITH A 
MAGNITUDE OF 5.6 OCCURRED IN THE SAME REGION CAUSING FURTHER 
DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES, HOWEVER DUE TO THE POOR 
QUALITY OF HOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, MOST OF WHICH ARE 
DECADES OLD, THOUSANDS ARE LEFT WITHOUT PROPER SHELTER. 
¶3.  DURING A COORDINATION MEETING HELD ON 8 JANUARY, 2008, 
THE MINISTRY OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INFORMED REPRESENTATIVES 
OF INTERNATIONAL DONORS AND EMBASSIES THAT ASSESSMENTS IN THE 
AREA FOUND A TOTAL OF 968 DISPLACED FAMILIES (APPROX. 5,300 
PEOPLE) THAT ARE IN NEED OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. THEY 
EXPLAINED THAT ASSESSMENTS ARE STILL ONGOING, SPECIFICALLY IN 
SETTLEMENTS AT HIGHER ALTITUDE, AND THIS NUMBER WILL 
INCREASE. COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM IS UNSEASONABLY COLD 
WEATHER WITH PROLONGED SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND SNOW 
STORMS WHICH ARE HAMPERING RELIEF EFFORTS AND ADDING TO THE 
SUFFERING OF DISPLACED FAMILIES. THE MINISTRY CONFIRMED THE 
FOLLOWING AS OF 8 JANUARY BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT OF 8561 
BUILDINGS: 1) 5357 HOUSES DAMAGED, 990 HEAVILY DAMAGED, AND 
4363 HOUSES IN NEED OF REPAIR; 2) 1 MEDICAL CLINIC WAS 
SEVERELY DAMAGED; 3) 1 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IS COMPLETELY 
DESTROYED, 7 SCHOOLS ARE CONSIDERED UNSAFE, AND 15 SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS, 1 PRIMARY SCHOOL AND 3 KINDERGARTENS REQUIRE MINOR 
REPAIRS. 
 
¶4.   THE GOVERNMENT OF KYRGYZSTAN AND INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATION RESPONSE TO DATE:  LED BY THE MINISTRY OF 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, RELIEF EFFORTS WERE IMMEDIATELY 
INITIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT, UNITED NATION AGENCIES, 
INTERNATIONAL NGOS, AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING THE 
U.S. EMBASSY  (WHICH PROVIDED AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE OF A FEW 
BALES OF USED CLOTHING).  THE RESPONSE BY OTHER DONORS 
INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF WINTERIZED TENTS, MONEY, MEDICAL 
ITEMS, WINTER CLOTHING, FUEL, PORTABLE HEATERS, AND BEDDING 
MATERIALS. 
 
¶5.  IN DISCUSSIONS WITH KYRGYZ OFFICIALS IN THE MINISTRY OF 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, BOTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN BISHKEK 
AS WELL AS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS, THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THE 
NEED TO HAVE EMERGENCY REPAIRS DONE IN SCHOOLS THAT WERE MADE 
UNSAFE DUE TO THE EARTHQUAKES.  THE WORST CASES OF THESE 
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED INDEFINITELY UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE 
MADE. THE MISSION PROPOSES TO WORK WITH U.S.-BASED NGO, MERCY 
CORP TO PROCURE THE BUILDING MATERIALS AND HAVE THE REPAIR 
WORK DONE THROUGH A LOCAL CONTRACTOR.  MERCY CORP IS 
IMPLEMENTING A USAID PROGRAM IN THE OSH AREA AND HAS THE 
STAFF AND EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND 
CAN GET THE REPAIRS DONE QUICKLY. 
 
¶6.  MISSION WILL KEEP ADDRESSEES UPDATED AS ADDITIONAL 
INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. 
 
YOVANOVITCH