UNHCR operations severely hampered

A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva on Friday said the agency's operations for refugees from Cote d'Ivoire in Liberia were now severely hampered by an upsurge of recent fighting in eastern border regions. "Most of our staff - except for those hired locally - have been pulled out of eastern Liberia," Ron Redmond said. This followed generalised violence and two attacks on areas where UNHCR operated transit centres, he explained. The fighting had made nearly all eastern regions inaccessible to humanitarian agencies, he noted. The recent fighting in eastern Liberia's Grand Geddeh and Nimba counties sent thousands of people fleeing. During the weekend of 29-30 March, some 7,000 Liberians arrived in Guinea, many of them severely traumatised and some suffering from gunshot wounds. Thousands of others fled southwards towards Liberia's Atlantic coast. These included Ivorian refugees and other West African nationals, including Burkinabe and Malians who had been staying in two of UNHCR's transit centres in Toe town and Zwedru, in Grand Geddeh county. Other people had dispersed to the north towards Saclepea, near the border with Guinea where the agency also has a transit centre. In addition to the 7,500 who have fled the transit centres, Redmond said there were many more Ivorians and West Africans who had been staying in the border villages and who were believed to be in need of assistance. Following recent developments, UNHCR will likely concentrate its relief efforts in Harper, southeastern Liberia. "We have a transit facility there where we can assist them. The facility hosted some 1,200 people before the recent turmoil. We have also set up a more permanent refuge camp, where some 200 shelters are ready and refugees have started moving in," Redmond said. The camp was situated on a large piece of land and could be extended to host up to 50,000 people if need be, he said, adding however that all staff - except for those from the town -had temporarily been recalled from Harper.