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UNICEF Experts Comment on Dwarfism in Kyrgyzstan |
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Thursday, 24 April 2008
Economic situation in Kyrgyzstan, never exemplary in the first place, keeps deteriorating. Energy crisis that already resulted in blackouts is coupled with food prices and tariffs for housing and communal services soaring sky-high.
Traditionally bent on putting a bold face on matters in general, even the Kyrgyz leadership acknowledged existence of grave problems. "Trends and results of the first quarter of 2008 make it plain that the economic situation is developing by the pessimistic scenario," Economic Development and Trade Minister Akylbek Japarov told a Cabinet meeting.
Specialists are particularly disturbed by inflation. What with the soaring food prices and gas and electric power tariffs, it may reach 20% this year - if Kyrgyzstan is lucky, that is. On the other hand, inflation is something that takes average parameters into account. What do ordinary Kyrgyz care about average price of jewelry that remains at the same level? They care about more important goods and services, and this is where the situation is truly dramatic. Food prices (and particularly dairy ones) rose by more than 20% in the first quarter of the year, fuel prices by 30-40%, and tariffs for housing and communal services by 30%. Electricity tariffs will rise again (13%) on May 1, and Kyrgyz state officials themselves admit that this is just a beginning...
Macroeconomic situation is similarly bleak. Trade balance deficit doubled against the figure logged in the first quarter of 2007 and exceeds $120 million now. Export from Kyrgyzstan is down to one third of import into it, the ratio that spells heavy dependance on external factors i.e. potential trouble. Ninety percent of the gas Kyrgyzstan uses are imported from Uzbekistan, a great deal of grain from Kazakhstan. Fuel consumption depends on import by 80%, and the list could be continued.
It is the elderly and children who are affected the worst. Pensions are upped by trifles at best, if ever. As for youngsters, Kyrgyz and UNICEF experts comment on dwarfism among children under 5 years. It is ascribed to malnutrition of the children themselves and their mothers more often than not. Hypoferric anemia was discovered in over 80% of women of child-bearing ages and 85% of children under 3 years. Hypoferric anemia is one of the causes of a high infant mortality rate in the republic.
The national leadership in the meantime builds itself posh mansions, buys expensive limos, and keeps berating the "horrible" Soviet years. They could be horrible indeed for people such as these because embezzlement was more difficult then. As for ordinary Kyrgyzes, they long for the Soviet past.
23.04.2008
Ferghana Ru |
Thursday, 24 April 2008
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