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UN Peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire Must Protect Civilians Caught in Fighting

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) must urgently protect thousands of displaced people sheltering in a Catholic mission in the west of the country amid fierce fighting, Amnesty International said today.

As many as 10,000 civilians are sheltering in the mission in the town of Duekoue, after fleeing fierce battles yesterday between forces supporting the internationally recognized elected President Alassane Ouattara and militiamen loyal to outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo.

WASHINGTON

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) must urgently protect thousands of displaced people sheltering in a Catholic mission in the west of the country amid fierce fighting, Amnesty International said today.

As many as 10,000 civilians are sheltering in the mission in the town of Duekoue, after fleeing fierce battles yesterday between forces supporting the internationally recognized elected President Alassane Ouattara and militiamen loyal to outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo.

"The UNOCI mandate in Cote d'Ivoire requires the peacekeepers to protect civilians at imminent threat of physical violence. They must act immediately to prevent further bloodshed," said Veronique Aubert, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Africa.

"The UNOCI camp is only about 3 km away from Duekoue and we are urging them to use all means necessary to protect civilians against the violence taking place on their own doorstep."

The situation in the west of Cote d'Ivoire has been volatile since the November 2010 contested presidential elections. All parties to the conflict have committed serious human rights violations including unlawful killings and rape and sexual violence against women.

Witnesses have told Amnesty International's delegation currently in Cote d'Ivoire that yesterday, forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara took partial or total control of Duekoue and Daloa, two towns located in the heart of the western cocoa belt.

Sources said electricity in Duekoue has also been cut, apparently as a result of the fighting, depriving people in the area of water.

Amnesty International fears that the displaced people as well as tens of thousands of other Duekoue residents could be at risk of a repeat of January violence, in which some 40 people were killed in fierce communal clashes and a number of women were victims of rape and sexual violence.

"The UN Security Council must make it clear to UNOCI peacekeepers that they must act immediately and effectively to protect internally displaced people and other civilians at risk in the area, according to their mandate" said Veronique Aubert.

UN peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire have frequently been prevented from protecting civilians since conflict began escalating last December in the wake of the disputed presidential election of November 2010.

Opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara is the internationally recognized winner of the poll but the outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to recognize these results.

"All parties to the conflict must adhere strictly to the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL). They must ensure their forces never target civilians, or launch indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks. Commanders must ensure that their forces take necessary precautions to protect civilians and make clear that violations of IHL will not be tolerated," added Veronique Aubert.

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.