Kyrgyzstan became an independent country after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is a Central Asian state bordering China. Poverty is widespread through out the country and ethnic divisions between north and south occasionally spill over into violence.
In June 2010, violence between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks broke out in southern Kyrgyzstan, resulting in targeted killings, kidnappings, massive looting and destruction. This caused an immense refugee crisis as around 400,000 people fled their homes or took refuge in camps across the border in neighbouring Uzbekistan.
The country continues to face an unstable political and security situation, and has been hit hard by food, energy and financial crises.
