Kyrgyzstan

Panic at Border As Uzbek Refugees Flee Unrest in Osh

Dalton Bennett Jun 12, 2010
Near the Kyrgyz border village of VLKSM, Uzbek troops assist ethnic Uzbek refugees fleeing the fighting in Osh. Near the Kyrgyz border village of VLKSM, Uzbek troops assist ethnic Uzbek refugees fleeing the fighting in Osh.
Several people were injured during the crossing into Uzbekistan. Several people were injured during the crossing into Uzbekistan.
Thousands of ethnic Uzbeks can be seen across several miles near makeshift crossing points trying to get into Uzbekistan. Thousands of ethnic Uzbeks can be seen across several miles near makeshift crossing points trying to get into Uzbekistan.
Using crude ladders, refugees try to cross a canal demarcating the border between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Using crude ladders, refugees try to cross a canal demarcating the border between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Refugees rest in the shade for their chance to cross the border into Uzbekistan. Refugees rest in the shade for their chance to cross the border into Uzbekistan.
A woman and her children are killed after outbreak of gunfire causes a stampede during the evacuation. A woman and her children are killed after outbreak of gunfire causes a stampede during the evacuation.
Uzbek border guards help ethnic Uzbeks cross a small land bridge as thousands push forward. Uzbek border guards help ethnic Uzbeks cross a small land bridge as thousands push forward.
An Uzbek woman waits for her family to cross the border from Kyrgyzstan. An Uzbek woman waits for her family to cross the border from Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbek security services help an old woman cross the dangerous embankment as she collapse from exhaustion. Uzbek security services help an old woman cross the dangerous embankment as she collapse from exhaustion.
Refugees from Kyrgyzstan struggle to cross the steep embankment of a three-meter-deep canal to escape into Uzbekistan. Refugees from Kyrgyzstan struggle to cross the steep embankment of a three-meter-deep canal to escape into Uzbekistan.
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A stampede on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border left at least four dead on June 12 as thousands of ethnic Uzbeks fled intercommunal violence in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Near the village of VLKSM on the Kyrgyzstan side, a sea of women and children crossed makeshift bridges spanning two irrigation canals that mark the frontier. When shots were fired nearby, a crowd of the displaced rushed forward. At least four people were crushed to death in the resulting panic, three of them children.

Though Uzbekistan’s border guards initially attempted to stop the flow, saying they had no orders from Tashkent, eventually some helped the refugees cross.

Dalton Bennett is a freelance journalist based in Bishkek

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