The three organizations will allocate in total up to USD 340’000 to provide shelter assistance to highly vulnerable earthquake-affected households in Chong Alai district of Osh oblast, 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 Chong 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. 

For reference:

On 3^rd and 5^th 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 Chong-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. 

The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic and supports projects in areas such as health, private sector development, public sector reform, and infrastructure. 

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational, not-for-profit agencies that aim to improve living conditions and opportunities for people without regard to their particular religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. AKF has been active in the Kyrgyz Republic for more than two decades. For more information on AKF and AKDN, please visit: www.akdn.org. 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is a development organization anchored in Switzerland. Helvetas started its activities in Kyrgyzstan in November 1994, and today organization is running 8 projects in Kyrgyzstan. Our organization is always ready to support and develop relationship with local and international partners. For more information, please visit our website at www.kyrgyzstan.helvetas.org

Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Finance, Ueli Maurer visits several countries in Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan. The visit has taken place in the context of the 25th anniversary of the joint voting group with Switzerland in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. 

On the occasion of his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer met President Almazbek Atambaev and the Minister of Finance Adylbek Kasymaliev as well as the Governor of the National Bank Tolkunbek Abdygulov. In addition, he visited local companies and exchanged with local entrepreneurs and opinion leaders, including on export promotion and the “Taza Koom” (Clean society) project foreseeing the digitalisation of the society. 

The joint voting group in the IMF and the World Bank was founded in 1992. Next to Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan it today also includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (the latter only in the World Bank). On behalf of this voting group, Switzerland represents the constituency and its interests with one of the 24 seats in both the Board of Directors of the IMF and World Bank. 

On his visit Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer is accompanied by State Secretary Jörg Gasser of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters in the Federal Department of Finance.