UN moves staff out of I Coast
2006-01-26 21:11
Abidjan - The United Nations mission in Ivory Coast began to evacuate some of its civilian staff on Thursday temporarily to neighbouring Gambia after attacks last week on peacekeepers and aid agencies, said a UN source on Thursday.
Two special planes were to fly about 200 staff, including 30 civilian police, to Banjul in Gambia.
The source, who asked not to be named, said: "This is a temporary transfer for some weeks, not an evacuation as a result of immediate danger."
Citing security reasons, the UN refused to officially confirm the relocation.
Another source said: "Because of the violent attacks against the UN last week, the ransacking of offices and the trauma that some of our personnel have gone through, we have judged it necessary to relocate some of the workers."
- AFP