VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEK #1063/01 2971116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231116Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1459
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA IMMEDIATE 2191

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI), 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: UPDATE ON EARTHQUAKE IN OSH OBLAST, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC 
 
REF: BISHKEK 1037 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: On October 8, 2008 Ambassador declared a 
humanitarian disaster in the Osh oblast located in southern 
Kyrgyz Republic following an earthquake on October 5, 2008. 
Post worked closely with the Ministry of Emergency Situations 
and the donor community to meet the immediate needs of the 
affected population.  To date, the U.S. response has included 
assistance from the U.S. State Department,s Community and 
Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP), Manas Air Base, and 
USAID/OFDA.  Thanks to the immediate response of numerous 
donors, and the Government itself, the immediate assistance 
needs of the affected area have been met.  However, the 
Ministry of Emergency Situations has begun to ask the donor 
community for assistance with the impending &winter crisis8 
that many fear will affect most regions of Kyrgyzstan.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶2.  On October 5, 2008 at 10:00 pm local time (  6 GMT) an 
earthquake of magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale occurred in 
the South of Kyrgyzstan (39.515 degrees N, 73.768 degrees E), 
at the border with Tajikistan and China.  The worst affected 
areas were parts of Chon-Alai and Alai Rayon, specifically 
the village of Nura, some 220 kilometers from the main city 
of Osh.  Data made available through the Kyrgyz Ministry of 
Emergency Situations indicate that the final death toll was 
74 people of which 43 were children. The number of injured 
was 142, of which 93 were children. 
 
¶3.  The Ministry of Emergency Situations assessed most of the 
settlements in the area surrounding Nura.  They identified 
some 211 displaced families, which is a lower number than 
first anticipated/feared.  The Ministry has begun setting up 
a tented camp for 211 families.  Making the situation 
precarious, however, is the fact that the air temperature in 
the affected area is 0 degrees Celsius at night with strong 
winds. It has not snowed yet, but it is expected that snow 
and frost will start within the next few weeks.  The most 
immediate need in the area is for construction materials for 
quick assembly/pre-fabricated houses. 
 
¶4.  Following two donor coordination meetings (the last held 
on October 8, 2008), the Ministry of Emergency Situations has 
continued to update the donor community on the situation and 
needs in the affected area. 
 
Disaster Response 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  The Government of Kyrgyzstan and international 
organization response to date has more than met the current 
needs in the affected area.  Initial relief efforts, led by 
the Ministry of Emergency Situations, were immediate and 
included United Nations Agencies, international NGOs, and 
foreign governments, including the U.S. Embassy and Manas 
Airbase.  The response by the Ministry and other donors has 
included the provision of winterized tents, heaters, 
blankets, food, mattresses, and money for food items. 
Subsequent relief items came in from USAID/OFDA, the Russian 
Government, the German Government, IOM, OCHA, WHO, and UNFPA. 
 The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Emergencies is 
responsible for the overall coordination of the response. 
Members of the international community have a seat on this 
committee to facilitate coordination with external partners. 
 
Needs 
----- 
 
¶6.  The Ministry of Emergency Situations initially made 
requests for a variety of aid items from the international 
community, including shelter, logistics, food items and 
non-food items (such as blankets, mattresses, and sleeping 
bags).  These needs were quickly met by a variety of donors 
and it is our understanding that sufficient aid items have 
been provided to meet upcoming needs for the next several 
months.  For this reason, the Ministry is already storing 
supplies provided in response to the earthquake in its own 
warehouse for use in future emergencies.  Subsequent needs 
identified by the Ministry included: construction materials 
for quick assembly/pre-fabricated houses, electric power 
generators, kerosene stoves, kitchen sets, fuel/lubricants, 
family food rations, etc.  USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to 
help procure building materials, which is the most pressing 
need expressed by the Ministry.  Most other needs listed here 
have been met by other donors. However, as additional needs 
are identified, Post will provide updates. 
 
¶7.  The Mission would like to re-iterate that all USG relief 
efforts continue to be coordinated in country and that Post 
is aware and appreciative of DoD,s offer of additional 
relief assistance.  Currently, there do not appear to be 
outstanding, immediate needs related to the earthquake. 
However, other needs have been highlighted for which DoD 
assistance would be greatly appreciated (see below). 
 
Highlighting Needs for the Winter 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  The earthquake and subsequent response has further 
highlighted the existing needs nationwide for the upcoming 
winter season in Kyrgyzstan.  While the Government and donors 
have differing and changing views on how to categorize the 
upcoming winter in Kyrgyzstan, there is broad consensus that 
there will be significant problems with electricity (with 
residual issues on heating and water) as well as issues on 
wheat availability and growing food costs ) especially for 
the urban poor.  Additionally, the issue of inadequate food 
for livestock beginning this summer has the potential to 
cause the loss of up to 25% of livestock across the country 
on terms that are suboptimal which, in turn, threatens 
livelihoods and food security.  In recognition of challenges 
faced by the Kyrgyz Republic in preparing for the upcoming 
winter, the USG is providing a comprehensive package of 
assistance (through USAID) valued at approximately $6.2 
million.  The plan includes $2.45 million in new resources to 
address: uninterrupted electricity for critical hospitals, 
supplemental feed for livestock of rural families, and 
additional high-quality wheat seed to improve the spring 2009 
harvest.  In addition, the plan includes the refocusing of 
$3.75 million of existing programs to address agricultural 
priorities, including: improving irrigation, crop selection, 
quality of inputs, and agricultural environment, and 
providing expert advice to the Ministry of Energy to plan for 
the coming winter and improve overall management of Kyrgyz 
energy supplies.  In addition, DoD has received eight 
proposals to procure needed winter items for orphanages, old 
age homes, etc.  Funding for these projects will reach 
approximately $80,000. 
 
¶9.  Even with this assistance, however, many needs remain. 
Specific needs for which DoD assistance could be useful, and 
for which USAID has already begun to communicate needs to DoD 
include:  1) securing and sending from current stock 
additional generators (exact number and requirements will be 
communicated directly to DoD) for critical-needs health-care 
facilities ) providing that these generators meet in-country 
specifications, as well as blankets, mattresses, winter 
clothing, and dried food; and 2) funds to procure 
coal-burning stoves and coal for use in other vulnerable 
institutions ) such as orphanages, senior citizen homes, 
homes for the handicapped, etc. focused in the south 
(estimated at $300,000); and 3) funds to plus-up planned 
USAID procurement of generators, to help provide technical 
assistance (in the form of training and oversight), and 
supply crucial spare parts (transformers, cables, etc.) to 
the overall distribution network for the country (estimated 
at $500,000).  The provision of spare parts, in particular, 
was not originally planned, but would help prevent breakdowns 
and help respond quickly when breakdowns do occur, which 
would mitigate adverse affects of unplanned power outages. 
GFOELLER