The Moroccan Contingent of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) based in Toulepleu, in the west of the country, some 650 km from Abidjan, on Wednesday, 30 October, 2013, facilitated the voluntary return of 501 Ivorian refugees from 151 families, during a repatriation operation organised by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).



These Ivorians, who had fled Côte d'Ivoire during the violent post-electoral from December 2010 to April 2011, were provided with a security escort by the Moroccan peacekeepers from the border between Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia to a transit centre in Toulepleu village where they passed the night and were provided with potable water.



"We are very happy to be back in our country after spending so much time in Liberia. We would like to thank everyone and all the organisations who worked to ensure that we return under good conditions,"said Laurent Péhé, one of the returning refugees.



The returnees were welcomed by the local chief of the Service d'Aide et d'Assistance aux Réfugiés et Apatrides (SAARA), Serge Vanié, who, on behalf of the Ivorian Government, warmly welcomed them, while urging them to become involved in the reconciliation and consolidation of peace process. Mr. Vanié expressed his satisfaction at the high number of returning refugees, which he said was as a result of the appeal made by President Alassane Ouattara to exiles in Zwedru, in Liberia earlier this month and that a larger number of refugees are expected during the next repatriation operation.



It should be recalled that this was the 58th convoy of Ivorian refugees organised by UNHCR and its partners and it comes just two weeks after a joint meeting of traditional chiefs, communities leaders, elected officials and administrative authorities from Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia which took place between 16 and 20 October 2013 in Zwedru, in Liberia.