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May 31, 2011

Forto-Sawa Sub-Zone - Effective Activities Underway to Achieve Food Security — Shabait.com (Asmara) 27 May 2011 The Agriculture Ministry's branch office in Forto-Sawa sub-zone is carrying out effective activities towards achieving food security, according to Mr. Ogbe Gebreamlak, head of the branch. He explained that vigorous efforts were made over the past years focusing on promoting vegetables farming.

27 May 2011

More than a decade after thousands of Liberians sought refuge in Cote d’Ivoire, some have started the journey back home amidst increasing fears of insecurity in the west of that country, along with its new President’s remarks that Liberian mercenaries pose a regional threat.

Cote d’Ivoire announced weeks ago that it was beefing up security at its border with Liberia to halt what it said was a mercenary flow.

Since the conflict escalated, Liberian security have detained several alleged mercenaries returning from the war-front in Cote d’Ivoire, with reports that many fought for both Ouattara’s forces and those loyal to ousted President Laurent Gbagbo.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office here say in a press release that it has facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 135 Liberian refugees, comprising 75 females and 60 males, from the West African state of Côte d’Ivoire.

The release said the UNHCR chartered airline, Air Memphis, landed by 5:30 p.m. at the Roberts International Airport, about 60 km from the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and UNHCR officials were present to welcome the returnees after many years in refuge.

“I fled Liberia on 11 March 1994 through Guinea for Côte d’Ivoire. One cannot be a refugee forever; that is why I have returned home,” the release quoted 37-year-old David Kaye Farley, who returned with Gloria, 11, and Michel, 10, who were born in exile and are more fluent in French than English, Liberia’s official language, as saying.

The release: The former refugees, some of whom returned with items such as cooking utensils and mattresses, were screened by Liberia’s security and immigration personnel. “I am very happy to see my home today. I went to Côte d’Ivoire together with my uncle as a baby. My parents were not home when fighting broke out in our area in Liberia, so I grew up with my uncle, who has passed away. My first task now is to search for my parents and see them for the first time,” remarked 22-year-old Smallmoris.

Upon arrival, the refugees received a voluntary repatriation grant. They were also provided with additional transport allowance depending on their final destinations. “The UNHCR will continue to facilitate voluntary repatriation of refugees from Côte d’Ivoire and other countries.

On Thursday, we are hoping to facilitate another return of more than 120 Liberian refugees from Abidjan,” said the UNHCR Representative to Liberia, Mr. Ibrahima Coly, adding that the UN refugee agency had over the years provided many services in return areas, including the rehabilitation of schools, roads and clinics, provided water and sanitation facilities, as well as income generation activities, in order to ensure that returns are sustained. Added to Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Coly said there are currently some 63,000 Liberian refugees in neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, The Gambia and Nigeria.

Since 2004, the UNHCR has facilitated the return of more than 170,000 Liberian refugees in collaboration with the LRRRC.