Côte d'Ivoire: UNHCR welcomes ceasefire agreement, but many still need help

UNHCR welcomes news of the ceasefire agreement in Côte d'Ivoire and we hope for a return to normalcy as soon as possible so hundreds of thousands of displaced people can go home. For the time being, however, there is still a sizeable displaced population that needs help, including nearly 1,000 refugees who have lost their homes in a campaign aimed at razing shantytowns in and around Abidjan. The refugees remain in five temporary transit sites, while thousands of other displaced Ivorians and immigrants have found temporary housing with family and friends. In all, more than 200,000 people - mostly from Bouaké and other northern towns - are estimated to have been displaced inside the country over the past four weeks.

UNHCR is taking part in a two-day regional planning meeting which is due to finish today in Accra, Ghana. The meeting was convened by OCHA in West Africa and gathers humanitarian agencies in a bid to study different possible scenarios and develop plans for the region.