5000 people displaced after attacks in C?te d'Ivoire

7 UN peacekeepers and 8 civilians have been killed during attacks in Côte d’Ivoire further driving 5000 civilians into displacement. The Danish Refugee Council is responsing with emergency relief.

Armed groups from Liberia have attacked across the border into Côte d’Ivoire. A convoy was ambushed and 7 UN peacekeepers killed another 8 civilians were killed in Nigre while 30 people were kidnapped. The attacks have left 5000 people displaced and further unrest is expected.

“We are already present in the area and we have been preparing for these attacks. We are now ensuring water supply by repairing pumps, distributing food, hygiene and kitchen kits, Says program coordinator for the Danish Refugee Council Elsa Moreno Cardenas.

As the only humanitarian organization already present in the area he Danish Refugee Council is in charge of the registration of displaced and the coordination with local authorities, UN and other humanitarian actors to ensure protection and assistance.

“We must expect further attacks and displacement and therefore the humanitarian structures and capacity must be in place, says Elsa Moreno Cardenas.

DRC has worked in West Africa since 1998, working with displaced people in southeast Liberia. In 2006, DRC opted for a regional strategy in response to continued conflict and displacement across the border between Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea.