Nearly 82,000 people have either been displaced within or outside
of Côte d'Ivoire since the crisis began though it is very
likely that the true figure is higher.

As part of IOM efforts to track population movements caused by
the political stalemate and violence in the West African country in
order to ensure those that need help are given it, the Organization
has so far gathered information of nearly 82,000 people who have
either been internally displaced or have crossed the border into or
through any one of Côte d'Ivoire's five neighbouring
countries.

The registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by IOM,
UNHCR, UNFPA, UNDP, Caritas and the Ivorian Red Cross in the west
of the country, in particular Duékoué, Danané
and Man, indicate so far about 42,000 IDPs there.

Another 34,500 are Ivorian refugees currently in camps in
Liberia.

The other significant area of movement is Mali. Assessments by
IOM staff and Civil Protection authorities in Mali to its border
with Côte d'Ivoire have shown that a minimum of 2,585 people
have crossed into the country in recent weeks of whom 1,587 were
Malian nationals who have largely returned to their home towns and
villages. Malians represent the second largest migrant community in
Côte d'Ivoire.

The remainder are Ivorian refugees and nationals from 10
different West African countries. IOM is currently working on the
provision of reception, transport and reintegration assistance for
Malian returnees and third country nationals now stranded
there.

Meanwhile, nearly 1,800 Guinean migrants have crossed the border
from Côte d'Ivoire in recent weeks, putting great stress on
host communities in the border areas of Beyla and Sinko. IOM, which
is looking to see how it can provide reintegration assistance to
about 600 of the Guinean returnees, has in addition helped 210
Ivorian refugees out of 672 registered so far with medical and
relocation assistance from the border to the Kouankan 2 refugee
camp.

In Ghana, where IOM has jointly carried out several assessment
missions to border areas with UN and government partners, there
have been lower levels of movement. UNHCR has registered 78 Ivorian
refugees while IOM and the Guinean ambassador to Accra have
assisted about 30 Guineans who crossed the border from Côte
d'Ivoire to return home.

Small numbers of Ivorian refugees have also been registered in
Burkina Faso as well as in countries not bordering with Côte
d'Ivoire such as Niger, Benin and Togo, according to UNHCR.

"The longer the crisis continues, the greater the potential for
a mass population movement. We are not just talking about Ivorians
being displaced, but also migrants. Côte d'Ivoire is home to
more than two million migrants from many countries, particularly
its neighbours. Past experience dictates that we have to be ready
to deal with another migration crisis in the region," says Eugenio
Ambrosi, IOM Director General's Special Envoy to Côte
d'Ivoire and surrounding countries.

Meanwhile, IOM staff in western Côte d'Ivoire have just
finished participating in an inter-agency rapid needs assessment
among the internally displaced in the region with additional
assessments to be carried out in the south, centre and east of the
country from next week.

In Duekoue, where growing numbers of IDPs have been putting
great stress on the sites hosting them, mainly the Catholic and
Protestant missions, discussions between IOM camp management
experts and representatives among the displaced communities will
guide future humanitarian action there.

Some displaced communities have expressed their wish to IOM to
return to their home villages but would need food and non-food
assistance for a couple of months as their homes and property have
been badly looted.

For others who want to stay in Duékoué, other
possibilities are under discussion with local authorities. This
includes the identification of an alternative site to house IDPs
and assisting any families hosting displaced people. IOM, which had
for several years assisted internally displaced persons at a camp
in Guiglo, is simultaneously working to improve the infrastructure
and management of the two main IDP sites in Duékoué,
at the Catholic and Protestant missions.

For further information, please contact:

Jemini Pandya

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 94 86

       + 41 79 217 3374

E-mail: "mailto:jpandya@iom.int">jpandya@iom.int

or

Jean-Philippe Chauzy

Tel: + 41 22 717 9361

       + 41 79 285 4366

E-mail: "mailto:pchauzy@iom.int">pchauzy@iom.int