Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), is sending an initial sum of US$5,000 in response to an appeal from Baptists in Russia who are providing assistance to those affected by the violence.

The BWA Division of Freedom and Justice (F&J) is monitoring the situation. "The Baptist World Alliance is deeply troubled by the disturbing reports of conflict in Kyrgyzstan," said Raimundo Barreto, F&J director. "We urge the worldwide Baptist family to pray for our sisters and brothers who are in the midst of the violence and have been forced to flee to makeshift refugee camps. We pray that order and peace may be restored soon and urge the national authorities and the international organizations to do all at their powers to ensure the safe return of refugees to their homes."

"We have all been saddened to learn of the violent conflict which has broken out in the south of the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan, especially the attacks on the ethnic Uzbek community," stated Tony Peck, BWA regional secretary for Europe and general secretary for the European Baptist Federation (EBF). "We are appealing to the member Unions of the EBF for some immediate help," Peck wrote.

The EBF, one of six regional fellowships of the BWA, includes Baptists in Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan is a former republic of the Soviet Union and gained its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet state. The country of 5.5 million people comprises almost 70 percent Kyrgyz, 14 percent Uzbek, nine percent Russian, and approximately seven percent of other ethnic groups.

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