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Refugee Emergency
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Crisis in Ivory Coast
Political unrest continues to affect Ivory Coast. Because of the ongoing tension and insecurity, thousands of Ivorian refugees are fleeing across the border into eastern Liberia. The refugees, mostly women and children, have fled because of mounting tension in the country since the presidential election in late November. The majority of these refugees are women and children, with 62 percent below the age of 18. Most are from western areas of Côte d'Ivoire and are in urgent need of food, shelter and clean water, which are all in short supply in Liberia's Nimba County, where the refugees are arriving.
As the refugee numbers grow, their presence is putting a strain on the local communities hosting them. Clean water, shelter and food remain the most pressing needs for refugees and the villagers alike as they have very little to survive on.
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- February 14, 2011: Another aid airlift arrives in Liberia as flow of Ivorian refugees continues
- February 10, 2011: UNHCR calls for urgent resolution of Côte d'Ivoire crisis as tension rises
- January 31, 2011: UNHCR organizes second aid airlift for Ivorian refugees in Liberia
- January 18, 2011: UNHCR boosts presence in western Cote d'Ivoire to help the displaced
- January 11, 2011: UNHCR building refugee camp in Liberia for initial 18,000 Ivorians
- January 6, 2011: Field Interview with Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, UNHCR PI Officer
- January 5, 2011: As number of Ivorian refugees in Liberia tops 22,000, UNHCR speeds up aid delivery
- December 28, 2010: More Ivorian refugees entering Liberia amid fear of political violence
- December 21, 2010: UNHCR beefs up Côte d'Ivoire preparedness, as political crisis deepens
How is the UN Refugee Agency saving lives?
The agency is working around the clock:
- Providing critically needed protection, shelter, clean water, education, and medical attention to refugees, especially children.
- Maintaining 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad, which include family shelters, clinics, schools, and wells.
- Developing 30 women centres to counsel and treat victims of sexual violence.
- Providing special protection for children through youth centres.
UNHCR is the only agency with the world mandate to protect refugees and provide durable solutions for their plight.
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