Benin appeals for $5m aid

2005-05-14 12:14

Cotonou - The government of the small West African country of Benin urged the international community on Friday to send it $5m to help care for more than 15 000 Togolese refugees.

Togolese civilians began fleeing their country in the wake of a bitterly disputed April 24 presidential election which triggered street fighting between opposition supporters a pro-government security forces.

"In the face of the distress of our Togolese brothers and to assist in our efforts and those of the United Nations we are launching an appeal for funds," said Benin's Foreign Minister Rogatien Biaou.

Many of the refugees who arrived since the election have been accepted into the homes of Beninois friends and relatives, but others are in makeshift camps and their numbers are still rising despite a relative calm returning to Togo.

"The new refugees arriving in the last few days from Togo have increased the number in Benin to 15 337," said Rafik Saidi who represents the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso and Togo.

In total some 26 154 people left Togo to seek safety with its neighbours, Benin and Ghana, after the election, according to the United Nations, although a few hundred have already gone home from Ghana.

Fighting erupted after Faure Gnassingbe, the 39-year-old son of the late autocrat President Gnassingbe Eyadema, was declared the winner of last month's election in the face of widespread claims of ballot-rigging.

- AFP