Thousands of families left homeless
whilst fleeing violence in Kyrgyzstan

400,000 people have fled their homes as U.N. estimates up to 1 million people may need aid in Kyrgyzstan refugee crisis.

Over 100,000 people trying to escape violent ethnic conflict which erupted last week in southern Kyrgyzstan have been seeking refuge in Uzbekistan. They have been living in whatever shelter they can find including schools, public buildings and makeshift camps. A further 300,000 of those who could not cross the border have been left internally displaced in appalling conditions in Kyrgyzstan as neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are struggling to cope with the huge number of refugees.

Homes and properties have been destroyed and over 200 people have been killed, however Kyrgyzstan’s interim leader Roza Otunbayeva has warned the death toll may be as high as 2,000. U.N. aid agencies and the World Health Organization have said up to 1 million in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan may now need aid.

"We need clothes and medical supplies, especially for the children, because when we fled our homes we just ran away and couldn't take anything with us," said Halima Otajonova, a 41-year-old mother of two, at a refugee centre. (AP)

Muslim Aid has launched a £100,000 urgent appeal for food, medicine and emergency supplies. Muslim Aid, whose partners are already assessing the situation on the ground, has made an initial allocation of £20,000 to provide emergency assistance.