Liberia: Numbers of Ivorians are dropping as fear subsides

The number of Ivorian refugees who fled into Liberia for sanctuary during the tensions in Côte d'Ivoire in November has now almost halved, to 5,482 from around 10,000 registered at the height of the crisis. UNHCR's verification and monitoring exercise, which finished late last week, counted refugees in 14 villages along a remote 45-km stretch of the border with Côte d'Ivoire. The Liberian Red Cross Society and the government also took part in the exercise. Refugees are continuing to shuttle regularly across the border to assess the situation in their home areas and these movements are expected to continue for some time until they feel it's safe for a sustained return. Most refugees fled because of fear of fighting rather than actual conflict. The current situation in Côte d'Ivoire is calm.