Hi all,
This is Joanna's sister. As many of you may know there is serious 'unrest' right now in Kyrgyzstan. For those that don't know check out BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8608440.stm) or CNN...I suggest BBC. Anyways, we have not heard from Jo but one of the volunteer's parent was able to get through the Peace Corps office and posted this on Facebook:
"I just talked to a Peace Corps rep in Washington D.C. All of the Peace Corps trainees in Kyrgyzstan (70 were in the group) have been put on “stand fast... See More” status. The Peace Corps is especially watchful and protective of the trainees since they are all new in the country. All trainees have been accounted for and are safe.
The rep mentioned the Peace Corps country rep for Kyrgyzstan was at the State Dept. as we spoke. Additional information should be posted on the Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov) as it becomes available. (There is no news there right now.)"
I know many of you are worried about Jo and I will definitely post any information the families receive on her blog. Likewise if any of you hear from Jo please share any and all updates. I would also suggest checking out the Facebook group "Peace Corps - Kyrgyz Republic - Family of K-18" parents have been very good about posting anything they hear.
-Jennifer
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The following was posted to the K-18 Facebook group last night. This is still all we know at this point and are hoping that the PCVs are able to contact us sometime soon. We're operating on a "no news is good news" basis.
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I just got off the phone with Matthew at the Central Asia Peace Corp desk in DC. (Poor guy - he's still at work and it is 8:30 Eastern time!) Anyway - he wanted me to pass on the following info.
All of the 163 Peace Corps Volunteers in Kyrgyzstan are safe and accounted for. (Of which 68 are the new trainees.) They were training in small towns located outside the capital. And they were living in other small rural towns outside the small towns. They are in groups of 10-15.
They are on "stand fast". This is one step above "alert." This means they are supposed to stay in their compound and have a bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice "just in case." The next step - IF it goes that far - will be "consolidation and evacuation." If that happens they would be evacuated to Kazakstan. Then it would "just depend." Things could settle down and they could all go back to Kyrg. If not, they could get reassigned or get sent home. But as of right now, they are on a wait and see "stand fast."
NOTE - Matthew said that info WILL NOT be posted on the Peace Corps website! He is sure that when something changes and Claudia can get on computer, she will let us know. He said that the best bet to keep abreast of news is the state department website. He said that WE will hear from the volunteers as soon as anything changes. (He actually said that we would probably hear fro out volunteer before we hear from anyone else. Even if it is just a short note.)
In summary - for now they are on "stand alert." Don't know HOW LONG they will be on stand alert. Just depends.
thanks for keeping us in the loop! my thoughts are w Jo and her keeping safe! hopefully things will calm down soon. very glad to hear she's alright..
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