In Kyrgyzstan, DRC focuses primarily on assisting the victims of the extensive ethnic violence in June 2010 which killed more than 470 people and led to the displacement of close to 400,000 people. In southern Kyrgyzstan, almost 2,000 houses and hundreds of private businesses belonging to the Uzbek Kyrgyz minority were burnt and looted. To facilitate a sustainable return and rehabilitation process for the displaced Uzbek Kyrgyz minority, DRC’s main focus is to secure housing for the returnees. Quickly after the violent clashes transitional houses were built, and through a large-scale effort these will be expanded into permanent solutions with the support of the Asian Development Bank and in agreement with the Kyrgyz authorities. Through advice, supervision and procurement of building materials, DRC will directly support the construction of more than one thousand dwellings, allowing returnees to have their homes back in order to consolidate a base from which to start anew.

With the support of UNHCR, DRC also works to strengthen the protection of the returnees and provides legal aid and advice on clarifying issues of housing, land and property documents and permits. This is an essential component of DRC’s comprehensive effort to ensure that the newly rehabilitated houses remain the property of the people returning from displacement.

In both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan civil society organizations have very limited capacity and opportunities for advocating on behalf of displaced persons and engage in dialogue with the immigration authorities. Consequently, DRC has also supported the Ferghana Valley network initiative “Dolina Mira” (Peace Valley) since 2003. The purpose of the Dolina Mira network, consisting of a number of Tajik and Kyrgyz NGOs, is to enhance the role of civil society in Ferghana Valley in mitigating inter-regional and inter-communal tension in this conflict-prone region shared by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and promote state-civil dialogue on issues relating to human rights in general and refugee protection in particular.