Côte d'Ivoire: Precarious situations for thousands of IDPs in the West
| Publisher | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) |
| Publication Date | 8 April 2011 |
| Cite as | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC), Côte d'Ivoire: Precarious situations for thousands of IDPs in the West, 8 April 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4d9f02652.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Intense fighting in the western town of Duékoué at the end of March has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people. At least some 800 people were killed in intercommunal violence at the advance of Alassane Ouattara'ss forces, while up to 25,000 IDPs have found refuge at the Catholic mission in Duékoué where they have no access to food, water and shelter.
An undetermined number of Duékoué residents looked for safety close to the compound of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire, while others were stranded on the road to Guiglo. To identify those most in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, IOM, UNHCR, WFP and Caritas are carrying out a registration exercise at the Catholic mission in Duékoué. The International Criminal Court may initiate an investigation into the alleged mass killings in the West.
Meanwhile, aid groups have been calling on both parties to the conflict to let them access those in need, especially in Abidjan. Direct attacks on aid workers were reported in some neighbourhoods of Côte d'Ivoire's economic capital, where the situation remains critical. The price of basic food staples has tripled and water has been cut in most parts of the city.
