The Uzbek Government estimates that around 75,000 people from southern Kyrgyzstan have crossed over the border since the clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks began last week.

Mr. Ban discussed the crisis in Kyrgyzstan and the plight of ethnic Uzbeks in a telephone call with President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, during which he also thanked the leader for granting the UN Resident Coordinator in Tashkent access to refugee camps to be able to assess needs.

He said that the UN would mobilize all necessary assistance in close coordination between relevant UN agencies and regional governments, adding that it was necessary to provide aid to all affected people in southern Kyrgyzstan and those seeking refuge in Uzbekistan.

The Kyrgyz authorities put the death toll from the recent violence at nearly 180 with 1,870 others injured.