AFRICA/TOGO - Increasing number of Togolese seek safety in other countries, says UN High Commission for Refugees

Monday, 6 June 2005

Rome (Fides Service)- The number of people fleeing from Togo to Benin continues to rise. Over 1,000 new arrivals were registered last week the United Nations High Commission UNHCR for refugees said in a report sent to Fides.
However UNHCR also said that in the past ten days no new arrivals or repatriates were registered in the Ghana Togo border area. At the moment the number of registered refugees in both countries is 35,743 ( compared to 34,416 a week ago): 15, 144 registered in Ghana and 20,599 in Benin.
Refugees arriving in Benin say they are fleeing repeated night-time raids and kidnapping by armed groups which feed the climate of fear and revenge.
In Benin about one third of the refugees live in two camps the rest are staying with friends or family. In Ghana where most refugees live with hosting families, in collaboration with partner agencies UNHCR assists the families and the refugees with various forms of support to allow the refugees to continue to live in a friendly atmosphere. Communities are assisted with the distribution of pumps to increase water supplies, food, cooking utensil, building materials and mosquito nets.
Denouncing serious violation of human rights in Togo the International Federation For Human Rights said “Togolese security forces continue to kill, rape and kidnap pushing the people to abandon the country”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/6/2005 righe 26 parole 278)


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