Photo Credit: Refugees International/ Sally Chin
06/11/2005

While the Liberian refugees in Prollo appeared to be able to integrate, the Liberians RI met in the isolated seaside village of Soublaké seemed desperate. They hurriedly whispered their worries to us while we were alone – they felt under threat, they were not allowed to take jobs, they were forbidden by the villagers to forage in the bush for palm nuts and firewood. According to them, their main source of assistance is Liberian fishermen who approach the shore from time to time to give them fish that they can sell. As soon as Ivorians approached our group they fell silent. The Ivorians too seemed nervous and unsure of the Liberians, although they denied that there were any problems between them and their Liberian “brothers.”

Only around 400 Liberians are remaining in Soublaké; most have left to try their luck in other villages. A mobile clinic used to visit Soublaké but services have been discontinued. Unlike in Prollo, there is no sustained program of village-based assistance, due to funding and implementation problems. UNHCR confirmed that many of the Liberians in Soublaké have made an application to move into the Transit Camp in Tabou.