AFRICA/LIBERIA - More Ivorians in Liberia have repatriated.

Monrovia (Fides Service)- The United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR has started a two day operation in north eastern Liberia to assess the actual number of Ivorian refugees in the area.
In a report sent to Fides UNHCR said “many of the 10,000 refugees who sought refuge in the country last month are moving back. We are assessing the situation in the 12 villages where Ivorians arrived in the first three weeks of November ”.
A Butuo, the most crowded area where 7,000 refugees were first registered, on the first day of assessment the number found was low. Refugee families at the Butuo transit centre and at border post at Cestos River said that many refugee families are travelling back and forth from Butuo to Ivory Coast fearing possible clashes between the Ivorian army and rebels.
Despite a situation of relative calm following fighting in November, refugees say people in Ivory Coast are still very worried that there may be another war.
The World Food Programme (PAM) has flown food aid to Butuo for distribution in localities where refugees are present and to facilitate distribution of aid UNHCR, in collaboration with partner agencies, is repairing roads unsafe for trucks. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2004 righe 25 parole 259)