Peace Corps Release on Program Suspension in Central Asia
Peace Corps Release on Program Suspension in Central Asia
Security cited as volunteers, staff return to U.S.
Peace Corps has suspended indefinitely its programs in three Central Asia countries.
In an October 1 press release, Peace Corps said it had relocated more than three hundred Peace Corps volunteers and U.S. staff from Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to Washington D.C. because of increased security concerns for its U.S. volunteers and employees overseas.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan border Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which has been accused of harboring a terrorist network linked to the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
The agency said it is looking to reassign the 311 volunteers or allow them to return to their assignments at a later date.
Peace Corps began sending volunteers to Central Asia in 1993 to teach English and work in health education, environmental protection and business development.
Following is the text of the Peace Corps press release:
Washington, D.C., October 1, 2001 -- The Peace Corps announced today its decision to suspend its programs in the Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The 105 currently serving Peace Corps Volunteers and American staff in Turkmenistan were relocated last week to Washington, D.C. The 149 Volunteers and American staff from Uzbekistan and the 57 Volunteers and American staff from Kyrgyzstan returned to Washington, D.C. over the last few days.
The Peace Corps has been assessing the viability of its program in these particular countries because of the security environment in the region. Extensive attention has been given to the safety and security for our Volunteers and to strengthening Peace Corps' capacity to evaluate, to prevent and to respond systematically to security issues as they arise.
Peace Corps is working to provide options to allow the 311 volunteers to continue their service in other Peace Corps posts, continue with another humanitarian organization or to re-enter the Peace Corps at a later date.
Nearly 1,200 Volunteers have worked in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan since the first groups arrived in 1993.
Initial projects focused on the teaching of the English language, health education, environmental work and business development.
Outside of the classroom, Peace Corps Volunteers have taught over 12,750 students and have worked with local counterparts to establish resource and computer centers, drama and sports clubs and to enrich local libraries.
