Togo 'calm but uneasy' as refugees continue to flow into Ghana ? UN

4 May 2005 ? The United Nations refugee agency today said that even though the flow of Togolese refugees seeking safe haven in neighbouring Benin and Ghana has not slowed, the situation inside Togo seems "calm but uneasy."

With Togo yesterday confirming the election results that have sparked the recent unrest in the country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 20,000 Togolese are now in exile, having fled the post-election turmoil.

"Refugees are continuing to cross the border and we are still hearing reports from some refugees that they have been roughed up by security forces," said UNHCR's head of West Africa operations, Michel Gaud?.

As of Wednesday, 9,979 refugees had been registered in Ghana, on Togo's western border, and 10,658 in Benin to the east. In both countries, refugees were crossing over at the major official border points and there were no reports of unofficial crossings being used. UNHCR is continuing to monitor the borders for new arrivals.

UNHCR is also sending a second three-person emergency team to Benin before the weekend, to back up a similar team sent four days ago. A senior emergency and security staff member is currently in Ghana reviewing the situation and is scheduled to travel to Benin in the coming days.

Most of the refugees in Benin are living with family and friends, with UNHCR providing transport for new arrivals who wish to stay with relatives. UN agencies in Benin have decided to join efforts to provide such refugee-hosting families with humanitarian assistance and to reinforce social infrastructure such as schools and health facilities to help them cope with the new arrivals.

Meanwhile, a 10-truck convoy carrying relief materials for refugees reached Benin today. The supplies include tents, blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting and kitchen sets for 5,000 refugees, supplementing relief items already pre-positioned for 2,500 refugees.

In Ghana, the flow of refugees remains steady, although there was a small but sudden surge in arrivals reported at Aflao border point adjacent to the capital Lom? on Tuesday, as a result of neighbourhood searches by security forces, refugees said.