A major military offensive launched in Western Cote d’Ivoire
by forces loyal to president elect Alassane Ouattara has
effectively sealed off tens of thousands of vulnerable displaced
persons, preventing them from receiving adequate humanitarian
assistance and protection.

In the Western town of Duékoué, fighting between
pro-Ouatarra and pro-Gbagbo forces have led to the displacement of
some 20,000 Ivorians and West African migrants who have found
refuge in an overcrowded Catholic mission with little or no access
to shelter, food, water and health facilities.

"Conditions at the Catholic mission are fast becoming
unbearable," says Jacques Seurt, IOM Emergency Coordinator in Cote
d'Ivoire. "Terrified displaced persons have been streaming in, some
with gun shot wounds as they cannot receive emergency treatment
from the local hospital. All are seeking protection from the
fighting. We call upon belligerents to ensure the mission remains a
safe haven for the displaced."

With pro-Ouattara forces reportedly moving southwards to
surround the town of Guiglo, access to some 4,000 stranded
displaced individuals and families remains impossible. The
displaced Ivorians, Burkinabés, Malians and Guineans have
been living at the open site without shelter, food, water or access
to health facilities for more than a week.

A further 2,500 displaced persons are currently sheltering in
and around the local Nazareth church and in the town hall.

Tension as well as violence also continue to grow in the
country’s main city, Abidjan. Despite the situation greatly
hindering efforts to gauge the true extent of internal displacement
in the city, IOM continues to evacuate Mauritanian migrants.

A second convoy of 659 Mauritanians arrived safely yesterday in
the Malian capital Bamako and is now on its way to Mauritania. IOM
is planning to organize a third convoy for some 400 Mauritanians
who remain stranded in and around their embassy in Abidjan.

Meanwhile, growing numbers of Ivorians and migrants are now also
fleeing into Ghana. Many report they have suffered serious abuses,
including house burning and beatings in Cote d’Ivoire. Those
who have fled to Ghana say they had to sell their belongings to pay
for their transportation to the border.

IOM staff at the Takoradi border crossing with Cote
d’Ivoire say the reception and transit centre for migrants
remains over-crowded. More than 800 people are currently there
despite it having a capacity to host only 200 to 300 people. Many
migrants as a result are being hosted in neighbouring
communities.

With the situation in Cote d’Ivoire worsening on a daily
basis and with more people now expected to cross into Ghana, IOM is
beefing up its presence at the border with additional operational
and health staff.

IOM has been asked to return at least 35,000 Guineans, Malians,
Senegalese, Burkinabés and Mauritanians with more requests
for assistance coming in. However, funding is urgently required to
ensure that the evacuation of stranded migrants from Cote d'Ivoire
can continue.

For more information please contact:

Jacques Seurt

IOM Abidjan

Tel: +225 07 46 85 78

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

or

Jean-Philippe Chauzy

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 9361/+41 79 285 43 66

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