Brussels, 28/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU is closely following the situation in Côte d'Ivoire and is keeping pressure up on Gbagbo and his supporters while continuing to provide humanitarian aid in very difficult conditions, European sources said on Tuesday 28 March, at a time when the UNHCR fears that close to one million civilians will become refugees as they flee the threat of civil war.
While, on Friday, France and Nigeria submitted to the United Nations Security Council a draft resolution demanding the departure of Laurent Gbagbo and a ban on using heavy weapons at least in Abidjan (see EUROPE 10345), the same sources pointed out that the EU was pursuing its policy with a view to supporting Alassane Ouattar, the democratically elected president, and that EU sanctions imposed on Gbagbo's side and extended on 2 February “are having an effect”. Under regular review, these sanctions may be stepped up.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is in constant contact with the African Union and with representatives of African regional organisations, including ECOWAS.
The decision taken by the European Commission to step up its humanitarian aid fivefold to a total of €30 million (see EUROPE 10339), shows the EU's concern at the need to prepare for a massive inflow of refugees in Liberia which has already taken in over 100,000 (over half of whom have arrived since end February) and Ghana. ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid service, continues to provide aid but under very difficult circumstances as cooperation with local partners is limited since the UN humanitarian agencies, such as UNHCR, are targeted by the Gbagbo side. The agencies work on a step by step basis. Only the International Red Cross Committee and Médecins sans frontières still have a margin of manoeuvre for rescuing displaced persons. (A.N./transl.jl)