The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is helping more than 150 Ivorian refugees to leave the Guinean capital of Conakry and resettle in a UN-run camp in southern Guinea, the agency said in a press release Tuesday.
A convoy of eight trucks carrying 152 people (48 families) and their belongings left Conakry early morning for Kouankan 2 camp, the UN agency said, adding that the refugees wanted to leave Conakry because life was becoming more difficult there..
An ambulance, security forces, UNHCR personnel and other aid workers accompanied the convoy, which is due to arrive at its destination on Wednesday afternoon.
There are no immediate plans to move more urban refugees from Conakry, though this might change if other refugees confirm a desire to leave. Before Tuesday's departure, there were some 1,270registered refugees from Cote d'Ivoire living in Conakry out of a total of 4,416 Ivorian refugees in Guinea.
Many of those leaving Conakry are regarded as vulnerable, including female heads of household. The refugees chose to move to Kouankan because of socio-economic difficulties they faced in Conakry, where they had received protection and assistance from the government and UNHCR.
"The refugees said that, because of housing problems in Conakry, they would rather go to the camp, where food, water and medical assistance is provided," said Dillah Doumaye, UNHCR representative in Guinea.
The refugees will be given a food parcel from the World Food Programme (WFP) on their arrival at Kouankan 2 camp, where tents have been erected to house the new arrivals. The camp currently hosts some 3,100 refugees, all from Cote d'Ivoire.
Source:Xinhua
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