Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - "The displaced people are gradually returning to their homes. Fewer people are in emergency centers, " says Jean Djoman to Fides, Director of development and human promotion of Caritas Côte d'Ivoire, from Abidjan, where the Republican forces (loyal to the new president Alassane Ouattara) took control of the district of Yopougon, the last bastion still in the hands of the men of Laurent Gbagbo, the deposed Leader of state, who was arrested on April 11.
"Since yesterday the situation is stabilizing in Yopougon. According to military sources, Yopougon is now under the control of the Republican forces who have managed to prevail over fighters who resisted, " says Djoman. According to military sources, the pro Gbagbo militants have received support from Liberian mercenaries and other nationalities. "We have no evidence to confirm or deny this information," says the responsible of Caritas. "Besides it is also true that in western Côte d'Ivoire, on the border with Liberia, there is an area infested by mercenaries from Liberia and other countries. These people come from the armed movements that fought in the war in Liberia (ended in 2003) and that now control this border area between the two countries, which goes beyond the control of the regular forces, both Liberian and Ivorian. It is a 'no man land' which is a reserve of mercenaries at the disposal of the highest bidder. This is a significant threat to stability in West Africa. We need to find a solution to this situation. "
Another area at risk in Abidjan is Abobo, which was instead the bastion of Ibrahim Coulibaly (known as IB), the leader of the so-called "invisible command," arrayed against Gbagbo, but was on a collision course with Prime Minister Ouattara, Soro. "After the killing of Coulibaly (see Fides 04/28/2011), most of the partisans of IB have sided with the Republican forces, while continuing operations of disarmament of these men. The pacification of this district will however last for a few weeks, as in other districts of Abidjan where there have been fights, because the process of collecting weapons is still long, " says Djoman.
According to the representative of Caritas “in Abidjan there are still parishes where displaced persons are welcomed, even though most of them stayed with friends and family. Even in this case the structures of the Church (parishes and religious communities) have offered assistance. Even if the displaced are returning to their homes, it should be emphasized that the situation of these people is worrisome because many of them have lost their jobs or their houses have been destroyed and do not have the resources to meet their basic needs (food , medical care, etc ...). "
Djoman continues: "As Caritas, we have given ourselves the task of continuing to assist displaced persons even after they return to their places of origin, because these people continue to turn to the structures of the Church for material assistance but also spiritual and psychological, many of them are traumatized and seek the comfort of priests. There are also pregnant women who need special assistance. Caritas has launched a program of actions both in the west of the country and in Abidjan, which provides food assistance, health, education and protection of women and children, " concludes the representative of Caritas. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/05/2011)
