UN deplores attack on IDPs camp in Cote d' Ivoire

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Bert Koenders, has strongly condemned the attack carried out by some 300 individuals against a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cote d'Ivoire, which resulted in seven deaths and injuries to 13 people.

A UN statement made available to PANA in New York on Sunday quoted Koeders as calling on the local and national authorities to "assume their responsibilities" by making more effort to ensure, by all appropriate means, the security of the people and their possessions, with the required professionalism, but respect human rights.

It stated that the attack, which occurred in Nahibly, near the prefecture of Duékoué in the western part of the country on Friday, led to the displacement of more than 5,000 people who had already been forced to flee their homes following the violence of the post-electoral crisis of 2011.

It said UNOCI helped to evacuate the injured to a hospital in Duékoué where they are currently being treated. A large part of the camp was destroyed during the attack.

The UN envoy also highlighted the gravity of the situation and expressed his sympathy to the victims.

He urged all the parties to "fully cooperate" with the efforts being carried out to end the suffering imposed on the vulnerable population in the west of Cote d'Ivoire.

Koenders welcomed the participation of the traditional, community and religious authorities in initiatives to defuse inter-community tensions, and encouraged their continuation.

He also said he would like to see the involvement of political forces in an effort to create a peaceful environment in the region.

UNOCI was established in 2004 by the UN Security Council to facilitate the peace process in the country, which was split by civil war in 2002 into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south.

Since the attack, UNOCI has deployed additional soldiers and police officers to support the efforts of the Ivorian authorities.

The statement further said that other UN agencies had also provided assistance to people who managed to find refuge in temporary structures.

It added that the office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and their partners in the region provided temporary shelter for more than 4,000 people as well as water tanks, rice, cooking oil, energy biscuits and other food items.
-0- PANA AA/MA 22July2012