19 000 Ivorians have fled
2004-11-23 22:34
Geneva - The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday it had reports that about 19 000 refugees had poured into Liberia from Ivory Coast, where violence surged early this month, but noted that the refugee flow was slowing.
About 10 000 Ivorians have registered in two districts, Butuo and Gborplay, but more Ivorians had crossed the border in other locations, according to the UNHCR.
"Refugees fleeing tensions in Ivory Coast are still crossing the border into north-eastern Liberia although the number of new arrivals is decreasing by the day," UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond said.
Other UN agencies confirmed that the flow of refugees was slowing, but said tensions remained high in Ivory Coast, particularly in the main city, Abidjan.
Aid workers in the southern city on the Atlantic coast reported a tense situation, according to the UN's humanitarian co-ordinating agency (OCHA).
Attacks on civilians
There were also reports of attacks on civilians along the dividing line between the rebel-held north and government-controlled areas, where UN peacekeeping forces had increased patrols, OCHA spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs told journalists.
"There are also tensions and a precarious humanitarian situation in Korhogo (north), where it is still risky for aid workers to leave the town," she added.
Ivory Coast slid back into violence after the government launched air strikes on rebel areas on November 4, in violation of an 18-month-old ceasefire, killing nine French peacekeepers and a US civilian.
Military action by France following the attack sparked anti-French riots by supporters of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, while thousands of foreigners and Ivorians fled the country.
The refugees are straining supplies in impoverished and war-scarred Liberia and the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said it had flown about 60 tons of food to the border region.
Aid agencies were examining ways of moving the refugees away from the border area, despite the huge logistical difficulties involved.
"Support or distribution of food close to the border could provoke a new influx of Ivorians to get food," WFP spokesperson Simon Pluess said.
- SAPA