UNHCR’s Photo of just few of those fleeing Ivory Coast
Amid political violence and the heightening of tension following presidential elections boycotted by the opposition, thousands of refugees from neighbouring Ivory Coast have crossed over into Liberia, the Liberia Refuges and Repatriation Commission (LRRRC) disclosed in Monrovia at the weekend.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has also expressed concern about the influx of Ivorian refugees into Liberia and other neighbouring West African countries.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is concerned as electoral tension and unrest in Côte d’Ivoire has caused several thousands of refugees to flee into neighboring countries.
“Violent clashes erupted after the presidential election that was held on 31 October leaving at least a dozen dead and many more injured, according to the latest reports,” the UNHCR said in a November 3, 2020 report published on its website.
The crisis is sparked by the on October 31, 2020 election in which President Alassane Quattara decided to run for a third term, something the opposition has rejected as unconstitutional.
The UNHCR has said it is “working with Liberian authorities to register the new arrivals and provide food. We are deploying additional staff to boost our aid response and monitoring activities.”
The nearly 3,000 Ivoirians fleeing to Liberia are mainly women and children, who LRRC said have crossed the borders to Liberia for safety.
Below is full text of LRRRC’s statement:
Official Press Statement
In the aftermath of elections held in Cote d’Ivoire on October 31, 2020, almost 3000 Ivoirians, mainly women and children, have crossed the borders to Liberia for safety,
The new arrivals who have entered into Liberia are currently settled in the bordering communities in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Maryland Counties.
Most of the refuge seekers informed LRRRC and UNHCR staff assigned to monitor the borders that they left their homes due to fear of post-election violence. The Liberia Refugee Repartition and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have mobilized staff to these counties to register and document the new arrivals who have crossed to the Liberian side of the border.
It is expected that more Ivoirians will cross into Liberia in the coming days and where there will be increased need for shelter, food and other relief items. The Liberian Government along with various partners, developed a Humanitarian Contingency Plan in late 2019 which is still being updated to deal with such situations along the border. The LRRRC is calling on its staff at the borders to work with the various County Authorities and specifically the County Health Teams to make sure that the new arrivals go through all the COVID-19 health protocols.
The LRRRC is appealing to national government and other humanitarian organizations to provide needed assistance to the new arrivals. The Liberian Government is meanwhile appealing to Liberians residing in the bordering communities to welcome and receive the new arrivals from Cote d’Ivoire, in typical Liberian hospitality, as was done during the 2010 and 2011 Ivorian crisis. Thank you.
Signed: Hon. Rev. Festus R. B. Logan Executive Director/Commissioner LRRRC