OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Kyrgyzstan: Earthquake
27 Decembver 2006


Situation

1. At 2 a.m. local time on 26 December 2006, an earthquake struck 
Kochkor area, Naryn region, some 140 km south-east of the capital 
Bishkek. Local reports indicated a magnitude of 5.5 in the Richter 
scale. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Kazakhstan.

2. The UN Resident Coordinator in Bishkek immediately established 
contact with the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Preliminary 
information received by the Government indicate mainly damage to 
housing, electric lines and communications and the need to provide 
heating for both the homeless and local medical aid centres. According 
to data provided so far, 2400 houses, two medical and obstetric centres, 
five administrative buildings, 9 schools, 1 kindergarten and one library 
have been damaged. Ten houses have been totally destroyed. There is no 
power supply or phone communication with the affected area.

3. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has mobilized its resources, 
and, in a letter to the UN Resident Coordinator, has appealed for 
international assistance in order to provide food, heating equipment, 
clothing, medicaments and construction materials.

4. OCHA has allocated a cash grant of USdlrs 10,000 to cover immediate 
needs.

5. This situation report is also available on the OCHA Internet Website 
at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel:   +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Fabrizio Gentiloni Tel. +41-22-917 3512
  Mr. Thierry Delbreuve Tel. +41-22-917 1638
  Mr. Carlos Monteiro-Pereira Tel. +1-212-963 4639

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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