Church in action in Kyrgyzstan following ethic conflict

(June 18, 2010) As calm begins to return to southern Kyrgyzstan following violent clashes between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek ethnic groups during the past week, the Catholic Church is responding with aid to those in need. In comments to Fides news agency, Bishop Nikolaus Messmer, the apostolic administrator of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, revealed that the situation in two most affected cities of Osh and Jalalabad "appears calmer." Ethnic clashes broke out on June 11 in the two southern cities and riots continued all week leaving at least 189 dead and more than 300,000 displaced either within the country, or in neighbouring Uzbekistan. Those remaining in the cities have no access to electricity and gas, and the food and water supplies are running low. Bishop Messmer, who was unable to obtain a precise account of the situation reported that the Christian communities, including the small Catholic community, which numbers only some 500, has responded generously to provide humanitarian aid. Of Kyrgyzstan’s 5.5 million population, 75% is Muslim and 20% Russian Orthodox. Several small Christian communities exist in the country, among them the Catholic Church.