1million become IDPs as Ivory Coast violence worsens
By Dennis Otim
28th March 2011:- As many as 1 million people have been driven from their homes in Côte d’Ivoire in the months-long turmoil stemming from the outgoing president’s refusal to leave office, with violence mounting and his loyalists using heavy weapons against civilians, a top United Nations official has said.
UN’s Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Atul Khare told the Security Council that, “…the deteriorating security situation [that has beset the capital Abidjan] and the escalation in the use of heavy weapons has had a serious toll on the lives and well-being of the Ivorian people…the human rights situation is very grave”.
The UN diplomat also ascribed most of the violence to forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the man who lost a UN-certified and internationally recognized election of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara last November.
The massive displacement in Abidjan and elsewhere is being fuelled by fears of all-out war. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Melissa Fleming also told a news briefing in Geneva that there is “…panic in Abidjan as thousands of youths have responded to the call for civilians to join the ranks of forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo”.
Showing slides, Mr. Khare detailed some of the worst attacks of the past three months, including an attack by pro-Gbagbo security forces using heavy machine guns against a group of women demonstrating peacefully in Abidjan’s Abobo neighbourhood in support of President Ouattara. Seven of the demonstrating women were killed and several others seriously wounded.
In another incident, Gbagbo loyalists fired several mortar shells into an Abobo market, killing more than 25 people and wounding more than 40 others. “…In all, 462 people have been killed since violence erupted in September. More than 93,000 people have fled across the western border into Liberia, while up to 1 million others have been internally displaced”, Mr. Khare said.
Earlier this year, the Security Council not only rebuffed Mr. Gbagbo’s demand for its withdrawal, but also authorized the immediate deployment of 2,000 additional troops and three armed helicopters.
Mr. Khare also noted reported attacks by President Ouattara’s supporters, including an alleged assault by so-called “Invisible Commandos” in which 5,000 people were driven from their homes outside Abidjan. END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
