BISHKEK (TCA) — The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Aga Khan Foundation and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in Kyrgyzstan have joined forces to support the most vulnerable households in Chon Alai district of Osh oblast in south Kyrgyzstan affected by the earthquakes of May 2017, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic said on June 28.
The three organizations will allocate in total up to USD 340,000 to provide shelter assistance to highly vulnerable earthquake-affected households in Chon Alai district, to train local masons on affordable para-seismic construction norms and techniques, as well as to provide legal assistance to help the affected households claim their housing, land and property rights and access affordable and reliable insurance. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will contribute CHF 240,000, the Aga Khan Foundation will contribute USD 50,000 and Helvetas the amount of CHF 40,000.
“The Swiss contribution to the reconstruction of houses is an expression of Switzerland’s solidarity towards the population of Chon Alai. The joint effort places victims at the center of our engagement in a spirit of neutrality, independence and impartiality,” said the Ambassador of Switzerland René Holenstein.
The work will be implemented by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) in Kyrgyzstan and the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, District Department of Architecture and Jekendi Ayil Okmotu.
On 3rd and 5th May, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake and a 5.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in northern Tajikistan followed by several aftershocks. The earthquakes reverberated in several villages in Chon-Alai district of Kyrgyzstan, with a magnitude of 4 to 6. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan reported that 1,000 houses, 3 hospitals, 1 primary health care centre and 1 school had been affected by the earthquake with damages of various intensities.
