Côte d’Ivoire: At least 1,600 seek refuge in Mali

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

COTE D IVOIRE: At least 1,600 seek refuge in Mali

ABIDJAN, 8 October (IRIN) - At least 1,600 people from Cote d'Ivoire have sought refuge in Mali since a 19 September coup attempt sparked off fighting between the Ivorian army and mutinous soldiers, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Activities (OCHA) reported on Tuesday.

News reports said fighting continued in the Central town of Bouake but it was not clear who controlled the city. National media had reported on Monday night that Bouake had been retaken by loyalist troops, prompting Abidjan residents to take to the streets in celebration. The rebels denied this.

Colonel Jules Yao Yao, spokesman of the national army said in a media briefing that 11 people including 10 rebels were killed, another person wounded and five vehicles seized from the rebels.

Tension was also reported in the capital Yamoussoukro on Tuesday as hundreds of pro-government youth reportedly ransacked shops and residences of suspected rebel-sympathisers, sources told IRIN. The youths, the sources said, were unhappy at being blocked from proceeding to Bouake by local authorities. They had on Monday been mobilised from Abidjan to go to Bouake "to offer their chest" for the war.

The CNN network reported the youth as "beating, killing and burning" those suspected to be anti-government. It also reported that the town of Tiebbisou, between Bouake and Yamoussoukro had been abandoned by its residents.

In Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that it was concerned about the ongoing developments in Cote d'Ivoire amid reports of growing internal displacement following renewed fighting after the collapse of cease-fire negotiations on Sunday.

"Worsening conditions in Bouake, including lack of water, electricity and food supplies, have prompted many residents to flee. According to the Red Cross between 150,000 and 200,000 residents of Bouaké (pop. 600,000) have fled to escape fighting and insecurity," the UNHCR said.

"In Abidjan, the demolition of houses in the city's shanty towns continues, affecting thousands of Abidjan's local and foreign inhabitants, including refugees. During a visit to UNHCR's office on Friday, the Minister of Human Rights said the razing of shanty towns would be suspended for ten days. There is still no suspension," it added.

The UN agency said it was assisting at least 800 displaced refugees in five centers in Abidjan but health problems were getting worse. Sixteen percent of the refugees were children under five and another 21 percent under 18 years of age.

OCHA also reported that concerns had been heightened by a national television broadcast on Sunday which said that "key to victory over the rebels was to expel all Burkinabe immigrants".

On Monday the Burkina Faso government appealed for an end to "unacceptable activities" against immigrants. Adama Fofana, the Burkinabe minister in charge of relations with Parliament and government spokesperson was quoted by PANA as saying: "Burkina Faso condemns cruel and degrading treatment of its nationals in Côte d'Ivoire."

Meanwhile Togo and Senegal joined France in urging President Laurent Gbagbo to sign a ceasefire with the rebel soldiers, which was proposed by the ECOWAS mediation team. Gbagbo refused to sign a ceasefire after the rebels had agreed to sign and opted for a military solution to the crisis.

In a related development, the Ivorian government on Tuesday extended a two-week national curfew until 21 October. It now runs from 22:00 GMT to 6:00 GMT. In Bouake and Korhogo however it runs from 18:00 GMT to 6:00 GMT.

President Gbagbo is to address the nation this evening.

For IRIN coverage on the Cote d'Ivoire situation please go to
http://www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=Cote_d_Ivoire

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