Richard is staying in a tent in Toe Town with around 20 of his family members, all of whom have fled Toulepleu. His main complaints about the conditions in the camp: cramped tents which leak in the rain, unclean latrines, the lack of a school, few medicines and, most importantly, poor and insufficient food. The latter is a common complaint among refugees who, unaccustomed to bulgar wheat, describe it as “chicken feed”. The ration size is also a key concern.

Thousands of refugees have fled from Ivory Coast to neighboring countries, including Liberia, following the political crisis after disputed elections in November 2010.

Oxfam is gearing up its response to the escalating humanitarian crisis.

The situation

The crisis in the region began at the end of 2010 following the contested presidential election in Ivory Coast, which has caused months of instability, abuse and violent clashes in the country, leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced from their homes. More than 100,000 people have crossed into Liberia but this number continues to rise as insecurity worsens.

UNHCR registered 46,000 refugees in Liberia just last month, and its latest estimates are that more than 1,000,000 refugees have fled Ivory Coast, into neighboring countries as a result of continuing political violence.

The majority of refugees are staying with host families near the border, but conditions for refugees are dangerously inadequate, with most lacking adequate shelter, clean water and basic sanitation.

Rte.ie recently highlighted Oxfam’s work in the Ivory Coast, you can view a gallery of Oxfam pictures here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0420/ivorycoast.html

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Read testimonies from refugees who have fled from Ivory Coast into Liberia.