Situation getting more desperate for refugees

Reports of fighting in southwestern Cote d'Ivoire have caused increased population movement, with the situation becoming "more and more" desperate for Liberian refugees living in the area, humanitarian sources told IRIN on Monday. Information from sources in the southwestern town of Tabou, received by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, ON MONDAY in the commercial capital, Abidjan, indicated that there was panic in the area and that people were taking off in different directions. According to the acting head of UNHCR in Abidjan, Panos Moumtzis, there was need to intensify efforts to address the immediate needs of safety and protection of the refugees. "All Liberian refugees are vulnerable, but in particular those in Nicla camp and those in transit centres in Abidjan," he told IRIN. Nicla, located in the southwest, is the only refugee camp in Cote d'Ivoire. "We are appealing to all African Union member countries in the spirit of brotherhood and burden sharing to receive Liberian refugees who could be evacuated from Cote d'Ivoire. We hope the countries could be more forthcoming before it is too late and everybody regrets," he added. The agency has in recent weeks intensified its efforts to find solutions and evacuate Liberian refugees from western Cote d'Ivoire, particularly those living in Nicla camp. So far no country has offered to receive refugees from Cote d'Ivoire, making the situation more desperate every day, Moumtzis noted. In a statement on 31 December, UNHCR said a new campsite should be identified in the southern part of the country as it was safer. It said the refugees were nervous and insisted on being moved from Nicla. The camp was originally home to 5,000 people, but its population has swollen to 8,000 since fighting started in western Cote d'Ivoire in late November. "Altogether UNHCR plans to evacuate up to 60,000 Liberian refugees who are believed to be trapped by fighting in the west of Cote d'Ivoire," the agency said. "But the Nicla population is seen as a top priority." People have also been fleeing Cote d'Ivoire for Liberia. UNHCR reported in the statement that about 53,000 people - 32,800 Liberians and 20,800 Ivorians - had been registered at various entry points in Liberia. The Ivorians had been accommodated in transit camps, while Liberians were transferred to their hometowns and villages. UNHCR said that in recent weeks, nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritania and other West African countries had turned up in Liberia and asked to be taken to their countries' embassies in the capital, Monrovia.