GENEVA / COTE D’IVOIRE DISPLACED

UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says the agency is concerned that the conflict in Cote d' Ivoire could spill into Liberia. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:30
• Production Date: 25 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; HOUSING; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: COTE D'IVOIRE; LIBERIA
• MAMS Id: U110325d

Description

STORY: GENEVA / COTE D’IVOIRE DISPLACED
TRT: 1.30
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 25 MARCH 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Pan left, Press Conference Room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson UNHCR:
“Because of this escalating insecurity and violence in Cote D'Ivoire, we are seeing a sharp rise in displacement and there are estimates that there could be up to one million people, just in Abidjan and the surrounding areas alone who are displaced at this point in time and that's not counting the people in the West also, a huge number of people.”
3. Cutaway, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson UNHCR:
“This mass displacement in Abidjan and elsewhere is being fuelled by fears of all out war. This week we have seen panic in Abidjan as thousands of youth have responded to calls to join the ranks of forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo.”
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson UNHCR:
“We are very concerned that this conflict could spill into Liberia. There is fighting very close to border areas. There are reports of Liberian mercenaries helping out in the fighting. There is a very fragile 8-year old peace in Liberia. When the High Commissioner spoke to the President and other officials, he kept hearing over and over again, "We are hugely concerned that the Security of our country is at risk.”
7. Cutaway, conference room

Storyline

UN agencies say more than a million people have fled their homes because of post-election violence in Cote d'Ivoire amidst fears of an all out war in the country.

This is twice the number reported a week ago.

Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN refugee (UNHCR) agency told journalists in Geneva today there could be up to a million displaced people in the capital Abidjan and the surrounding areas alone.

Humanitarian agencies believe huge numbers of people have also been forced to flee violence and insecurity in the west of the country.

Fleming said refugee officials were very concerned that the conflict could spill into neighbouring Liberia. There is fighting in border areas with reports of involvement by Liberian mercenaries.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Gutteres is just back from the region.

Fleming said Liberia's President and other officials told Gutteres they were afraid that security in Liberia was threatened by the situation in Cote d'Ivoire. A bloody civil war in Liberia ended eight years ago.