New York, Jan 22 2003 6:00PM - As
the United Nations top envoy for the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire continues
her month-long mission in the region, she made a stop today at a refugee
camp housing thousands of Liberians seeking shelter from the sporadic fighting.
Carolyn McAskie, the Secretary-General's
Humanitarian Envoy for the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, visited the refugee
camp at Nicla, which is now home to some 7,000 Liberian, according to the
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
According to OCHA, the United Nations is gravely concerned for the well being of the camp's residents, as Liberian refugees have been discriminated against since the outbreak of violence in Côte d'Ivoire. Further complicating their situation are the roadblocks set up by youth groups to limit their movements. No neighbouring country has responded to the UN's request to provide them with asylum.