UNHCR temporarily suspends operations

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Tuesday it had temporarily suspended operations in Côte d'Ivoire, including repatriation of Liberians home, due to recent violent protests in the Ivorian city of Abidjan and the general climate of insecurity, UNHCR reported. "UNHCR has put all its operations in the country on hold as a precautionary measure, instructing its staff to stay at home until further notice. The emergency repatriation of Liberian refugees from Tabou in south-western Côte d'Ivoire has also been suspended," the refugee agency said. It added that as at last Saturday, when the return convoys by bus and boat were stopped, some 900 Liberians had been sent home. "Last week, a delegation of tribal chiefs from Liberia embarked on a mission with their counterparts in Côte d'Ivoire to negotiate for the free passage of homeward-bound Liberians. Many of the refugees who had managed to cross into Liberia reported being harassed along the way," UNHCR said. "Despite the temporary suspension, Liberians in the area are still coming forward to register with UNHCR for help to return home. The refugee agency is working to accommodate them in a rehabilitated transit center in Tabou until the return convoys start again." UNHCR reported that the spontaneous exodus from Côte d'Ivoire continues. More than 71,000 people had fled rebel fighting in the west since mid-November, making their own way into Liberia. These included at least 40,000 Liberians, 25,000 Ivorians and nearly 6,000 other nationals. "UNHCR estimates that up to 40,000 Liberian refugees still remain in the volatile western region of Côte d'Ivoire, including more than 5,000 in Nicla camp who cannot return home due to their ethnic background and known opposition to the Liberian government," the agency said. On Saturday, UNHCR's Deputy High Commissioner Mary Ann Wyrsch had said that the agency had so far received little regional assistance in finding other solutions, such as alternative sites in the region for Liberian refugees stranded in western Côte d'Ivoire. "It is sad that refugees are choosing to return because of fear for their safety. Countries that signed the refugee convention should not forget their obligations to care for refugees," she said in Abidjan. "UNHCR cannot do the job alone." She appealed to the Ivorian people "to make the distinction between refugees and rebels. Refugees are vulnerable and in need of help" and urged both the loyalist and rebel forces to stop recruiting refugees, as has been reported since the early days of the Ivorian conflict.