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TSF Kyrgyzstan mission over as violence recedes

02-07-2010 - Conflict-torn Kyrgyzstan has received vital communications support from Télécoms Sans Frontières using BGAN connectivity.

The Inmarsat-sponsored aid agency supported UN and non-government organisations (NGOs) as fighting between the nation's Kyrgyz and Uzbeks' communities during June claimed 2,000 lives and caused 400,000 people to flee their homes.

Violence flared during the run-up to a referendum on 27 June, when 90 per cent of the country's voters voted in favour of a new charter that will establish a parliamentary democracy.

NGO support
At the country's international airport in Osh, data communication services for the UN and for the NGOs Oxfam and Acted were supported with TSF's BGAN via a local internet services provider.

TSF's Myriam Annette said: "Our team also provided support to NGOs at the Acted offices in Osh, setting up internet connections via BGAN terminals and providing technical support to the humanitarian staff working in the offices.

"Once the local network was up and working again on 28 June we were able tomigrate services from our satellite terminals over to the local ISP terrestrial connection on 29 June.

"Following the referendum the situation is stabilizing and, according to the local authorities, most of the refugees who fled have now returned. Our emergency response has been completed and the TSF team has left, but we will continue to monitor the situation, which remains sensitive."

www.tsfi.org

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