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UN-backed humanitarian team completes two-day mission in Cote d’Ivoire

12 January 2011 03:50 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A team of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations completed a two-day visit to western Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday to determine the needs of over 16, 000 displaced persons in the western African country, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters here, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is building a new refugee camp for some 25,000 Ivorians in eastern Liberia -- around 600 refugees continue to arrive each day.

Construction of the new camp in the Liberian town of Bahn will only provide initial housing for some 18,000 refugees and will provide health, water, sanitation and schooling services to those displaced. "The agency continues to deliver aid to villages where refugees are located," said Nesirky.

Cote d’Ivoire is undergoing a turbulent political crisis, as two different candidates, Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbago, were both sworn in as president after the Nov. 28 presidential runoff election.

The United Nations has recognized Ouattara as the legitimately elected president and has asked for Gbagbo to step down. The incumbent president’s refusal to concede power has led to political upheaval and renewed violence since the country’s 2002- 2003 civil war.

"The UN Humanitarian Coordinator Ndolamb Ngokwey, reminded local authorities of the need to ensure the protection of civilians and comply with human rights standards," said the UN spokesman.

Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing political turmoil, the UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) reported the blocking of a UN logistics convoy on its way to re-supply Ouattara’s makeshift headquarters in the Golf Hotel in the city of Abidjan.

Confronted by Ivorian Defense and Security Forces (FDS), four civilians who were part of the UN convoy were taken into custody, including three UNOCI civilian trucks.

"UNOCI is in direct contact with the FDS leadership to ascertain their whereabouts. The mission is investigating the incident and is also putting in place measures in order to mitigate the risk of such incidents occurring in the future," said Nesirky.