Baltimore, Md., Mar 30, 2011 / 22:33 pm
Baltimore, Maryland. - Catholic Relief Service is working to provide immediate aid to over 100,000 refugees who've fled the Ivory Coast amid rising political turmoil in the country.
“The two main needs are shelter and food,” Brian Gleeson, the relief agency's West Africa representative, told CNA March 30.
The Ivory Coast is on the brink of civil war, with outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo recruiting thousands of young people to fight on his behalf against domestic and international backers of his rival, president-elect Alassane Ouattara.
Gleeson said that since the presidential election in the country last November, violence has already claimed hundreds of lives and forced over 1 million people from their homes.