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UN humanitarian staff begin returning to Côte d'Ivoire following recent violence

UN humanitarian staff begin returning to Côte d'Ivoire following recent violence

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United Nations humanitarian staff are returning to Côte d'Ivoire after being withdrawn earlier this month when a Government attack on rebels in the north in violation of a ceasefire accord led to a resurgence of violence and anti-French rioting and ethnic clashes in the West African country.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that a small number returned yesterday to Abidjan, the main city, and more were scheduled to return today. Most staff were relocated to Accra, Ghana, on 10 November due to the seriousness of the situation in Abidjan and other parts of the country.

If conditions permit, rapid assessment missions will be conducted in various areas including Guiglo, where thousands of refugees and displaced persons are gathered in camps, and Bouaké in the rebel-held north where cases of forced disappearances, arrests and detention of people accused of supporting President Laurent Gbagbo have been reported.

OCHA said the return of the staff would allow resumption of humanitarian operations in all parts of the country - although there are still serious concerns that the crisis could worsen.

The latest turmoil began 4 November when Government forces bombed rebel positions in the UN-patrolled Zone of Confidence (ZOC) separating the combatants. Two days later Government forces bombed French peacekeepers there, killing nine, and French troops destroyed the Government's air force in retaliation, leading to widespread rioting, looting and harassment of foreigners.