VIOLENCE is stoking the inflamed tensions in the Ivory Coast.
Mission Network News said quoting some reports that the situation could possibly be the worst since 2003.
According to a report in MNN, the mere mention of that time brings inevitable comparison of the civil war then and what’s unfolding since unrest flared following the November poll after two political rivals declared themselves the winner.
The report quoted Robert Hale with Wycliffe Bible Translators as saying: “The violence has spread, even into the rural areas. There are families being run out of their villages because of their support of one or the other candidates.”
Oxfam said more than 70,000 refugees have fled into Liberia.
“Obviously, that has created a humanitarian crisis. The prices of simple goods have gone up, so not only is there the fear of fighting, but there’s the inability to even feed the family,” it said.
A peacekeeping force from the United Nations has been dispatched to try to keep the country from falling into open civil war. Their presence, however, hasn’t prevented challenges for those trying to travel safely.
Hale says their projects have been interrupted.
“Since we have no expatriate missionaries in the country right now, all of our work is being headed up by our Ivoirian colleagues. Normally, either a consultant will travel to Abidjan, or the translators will have to travel out of country to Mali. But this kind of unrest makes both of those options virtually impossible,” he said.
Water and electricity have been turned off for millions of people in the north. Rebels say the incumbent president, Lauren Gbabgo, nationalized the electric company after the elections in November. He’s using the utilities to punish those who recognize the election of his opponent, Alassane Ouattara.
Unfortunately, that has also had an impact on Wycliffe.
Hale explains: “We do have one project that is using a satellite hookup for checking sessions over the internet, but I’m not even sure that they’re able to continue even that. A lot of communications have been closed down. Now that the electricity has been cut off all across the north of the country, that obviously limits a lot.”
With the situation changing hour by hour, Hale asks prayer for the protection for their translation team and their families. Pray for another team member, a literacy coordinator named Martin Toualy.
“He’s been holding trauma healing workshops in some of the most devastated areas. He travels even during the most difficult times. I would just pray for his protection and his ministry. He might be able to reach out to those who are affected by the crisis. Obviously, in these times it’s very hard for him to continue that,” he added.
