2010.06.15: Peace Corps Volunteer Raul Moreno writes: It's early afternoon and I've moved to a safe house in another part of Osh where a number of American aid workers have gathered
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2010.06.15: Peace Corps Volunteer Raul Moreno sent a dispatch from Kyrgyzstan to several of his friends and former colleagues, recounting what he witnessed there, and how he made it to Bishkek, the country's capital :
2010.06.15: Peace Corps Volunteer Raul Moreno writes: It's early afternoon and I've moved to a safe house in another part of Osh where a number of American aid workers have gathered
Peace Corps Volunteer Raul Moreno writes: It's early afternoon and I've moved to a safe house in another part of Osh where a number of American aid workers have gathered
With help from local security forces and a commendable coordination effort from headquarters staff, our group has evacuated from Osh. We are safe now in a compound near Bishkek, but our thoughts remain with our Kyrgyz and Uzbek colleagues in the South. Tonight these families cope with interethnic violence that at last count had claimed close to 80 lives and wounded nearly 1,000 (see updates below).
Peace Corps Volunteer Raul Moreno writes: It's early afternoon and I've moved to a safe house in another part of Osh where a number of American aid workers have gathered
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Osh Riots, Day Two (Updated)
Caption: June 15, 2010: Peace Corps Volunteers reach the safety of a helicopter in Osh. All of the Peace Corps volunteers in the southern region have been evacuated safely. Most of the violence has been restricted to the south, and the north remains peaceful. It is anticipated that volunteers will remain in the north. Photo: R Moreno
By R.B. Moreno
It's early afternoon and I've moved to a safe house in another part of Osh where a number of American aid workers have gathered. The drive here, in a word, was harrowing: gangs of men with clubs guarding road blocks fashioned from felled trees and torched cars; others trying to forcibly enter apartment complexes. It's unclear who is in charge of the city, but cannon fire can be heard from our vantage as well as helicopters patrolling overhead. An evacuation plan is being developed; I'll update with more as I can.
Update (2:00 AM, June 13, 2010) -- With help from local security forces and a commendable coordination effort from headquarters staff, our group has evacuated from Osh. We are safe now in a compound near Bishkek, but our thoughts remain with our Kyrgyz and Uzbek colleagues in the South. Tonight these families cope with interethnic violence that at last count had claimed close to 80 lives and wounded nearly 1,000 (see updates below).
Inside our safe house, a makeshift barrier is erected to expel rocks and firebombs
As we made our way to a helicopter today our convoy was met repeatedly with vigilantes brandishing everything from bows and arrows to Kalashnikovs. Later, aerial views of neighborhoods in flames and a skyline blackened with smoke suggested the death toll will rise much higher.
Postscript (July 1, 2010) -- After being removed temporarily at the request of the U.S. Peace Corps, this post has been republished.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: June, 2010; Peace Corps Kyrgyzstan; Directory of Kyrgyzstan RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Kyrgyzstan RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Evacuation
When this story was posted in July 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Kyrgyzstan; Safety; Evacuation
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