Many refugees from Ivory Coast crossed into Liberia in boats like this one. Here, Liberians and Ivorians return from a trip into Ivory Coast to buy necessities at the market while the situation is calm. (Photo: Laurie MacGregor/NCA)
Norwegian Church Aid is concerned that the humanitarian situation in Ivory Coast may deteriorate if Laurent Gbagbo is brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR estimates that currently around 135,000 Ivorian refugees have crossed into Liberia, but NCA partners suggest that this figure could in reality be much higher. Ivorian refugees and Liberian host families in the border areas of Nimba County are currently sharing the little they have with each other, but the situation is precarious: the population has exploded in this traditionally food-scarce region of Liberia, and the next harvest is not before October – in six months’ time.
Remote districts
“The few roads that lead to the Ivorian border areas of Nimba County are in extremely poor condition. In many places there are large, deep holes in the road that make it difficult for all vehicles larger than a motorbike to pass. Additionally, many bridges over small streams are in need of rehabilitation,” reports Arild Isaksen, head of the NCA Emergency Response division, from Liberia this week.
This means that vital supplies of food and equipment are unable to reach the refugees, and the food security of the 150,000 people in these remote districts is dependent upon road access.
Through ACT Alliance, Norwegian Church Aid is supporting local partner EQUIP in efforts to improve roads and bridges close to the Ivorian border in Nimba County. A cash-for-work program has been set up, employing Liberians and Ivorians to make repairs to roads and bridges in exchange for a warm meal and $5 for every day’s work under the supervision of an experienced road maintenance engineer.
Rainy season approaches
Rain has started to fall in Nimba County, several weeks earlier than normal. The rain poses a greater threat to accessibility as the roads tend to become waterlogged. Road improvements must therefore be completed quickly, and drainage channels dug, before the rain sets in for good.
Hague no solution
The situation for refugees and the local population in Liberia risks becoming extremely serious very quickly. Norwegian Church Aid is also concerned for the situation in Ivory Coast if former president Laurent Gbagbo is to be tried before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
The present conflict in Ivory Coast, connected to the election results from autumn 2010, has brought back to the surface a long-term, deep-running conflict in Ivorian society.
“The most important thing now is reconciliation between the different parties in Ivory Coast. Only with reconciliation will we be able to prevent the humanitarian situation from deteriorating further,” says Atle Sommerfeldt, General Secretary of Norwegian Church Aid.
Norwegian Church Aid has met and spoken with Ivorian refugees in the Liberian border areas. Many have expressed their fear of returning to their home country until a real process of reconciliation is seen to be having an effect.
Contact:
- Arild Isaksen, NCA Head of Emergency Preparedness, tel: +47 913 70 599
- Atle Sommerfeldt, NCA General Secretary, tel +47 91 75 51 12
- Laurie MacGregor, Communications Advisor, tel: +47 93 24 24 89