UNHCR has begun transferring refugees from Côte d'Ivoire to a
new refugee camp in the north-eastern Liberian town of Bahn. Over
the coming weeks UNHCR hopes to move up to 15,000 refugees into the
facility, which has been carved out of the jungle. They are among
almost 40,000 civilians from Côte d'Ivoire who have fled to escape
mounting political tension in their country since the presidential
election in late November.
The final number of people to move to Bahn will depend on how
many wish to be relocated.from villages near the Liberia-Côte
d'Ivoire border. Initially most of the refugees were taken in by
host communities, living side-by-side with locals. Poor road
conditions made it difficult for humanitarian agencies to deliver
assistance. Supplies of food, medicine and water have been running
low, making conditions difficult for both locals and refugees.
At the camp in Bahn, refugees will have easy access to basic
services such as health care, clean water and primary school
education.
