05 April 2011

BEIRUT: Two Lebanese were severely wounded in Abidjan Monday as Lebanese exptatriates are still trapped in battles for the control of the former capital of Ivory Coast intensified amid reports of water and food shortages in the West African nation.

Mohammad Basma and Mustafa Haidar of the Lebanese community in Abidjan were critically injured when unknown rebels opened fire on their car as they drove through the war-torn capital of Ivory Coast.

In a telephone interview with The Daily Star Monday, Lebanon’s ambassador to Ivory Coast Ali Ajami said that the two injured men left the intensive care unit but were still being treated at the hospital.

“Despite our warnings to Lebanese citizens not to leave their homes in times like these, Basma and Haidar were traveling across the city,” said Ajami, who called to the Lebanese to stay indoors.

“Even the French authorities cannot help their citizens who insist on roaming the streets … the situation here is very dangerous,” he added.

Earlier Monday, sporadic reports said that a Lebanese national was shot dead and others were in critical situation, a day after hundreds of Lebanese protested next to the Foreign Ministry in Achrafieh demanding the evacuation of their relatives who have been left behind in the West African country.

According to Ajami, the number of Lebanese who have requested to flee the Ivory Coast has exceeded 10,000. “We have been receiving dozens of emergency calls from Lebanese asking for help but unfortunately we are unable to reach them due to the ongoing instability,” said Ajami.

Violence in Ivory Coast resumed following the presidential elections in November of last year. Although the results of the election showed a defeat of Laurent Gbagbo by his rival Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo clung to power, causing a major unrest throughout the country.

Ajami also confirmed the reports of lootings of Lebanese-owned businesses. “Many Lebanese own large supermarkets and shops throughout Abidjan … and I can say that those shops were the targets of chaos in the country,” Ajami added.

However, Ajami ruled out that Lebanese in Abidjan were being targeted for their political affiliations with Gbagbo. “These rumors are inaccurate because Lebanese have no political affiliations but only economic relationships with both Gbagbo and Ouattara.”

Many among the 90,000 Lebanese of Ivory Coast have also gained the Ivorian nationality and most have emerged as the owners of large- and medium-sized industrial businesses in the West African nation.

Amid political vacuum in Lebanon, authorities have struggled reach out for the Lebanese living in Abidjan.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri propped up his contact with Jordanian King Abdullah II to mobilize Jordanian troops operating as part of the United Nations force there to assist the Lebanese.

Meanwhile, Hariri urged Middle East Airlines chairman Mohammad Hout to ensure the availability of flights to Abidjan as French authorities informed Hariri that their forces stationed at Abidjan’s airport would help in the evacuation of the Lebanese.

Headed by President Michel Sleiman, the Higher Defense Council will also convene Tuesday at the Baabda Palace to discuss the possible measures to help the Lebanese expatriates in Ivory Coast.

A Lebanese national who lives less than 100 meters away from the Presidential Palace in the Plateu district of Abidjan told The Daily Star Monday that water shortages have already become a reality, a week after Ouattara’s forces launched an offensive on Gbagbo forces.

“It’s a shame that we are Lebanese … if we were only French we would have been evacuated from these areas,” said the Lebanese national, who refused to give her name. “I see French helicopters are roaming in the area and helping their citizens, while our government in Lebanon has done nothing.” 

However, an official at the Foreign Ministry told the Daily Star that Lebanon is now working closely with officials at the U.N. and French authorities to ensure an international mediation to help evacuate Lebanese.

“There are now talks about ships [mostly French] to dock at the coastal ports of Ivory Coast to evacuate the Lebanese,” said assistant Foreign Minister Qabalan Franjieh.

“There are no functioning tower or airport personnel in Abidjan to help clear the way for commercial flights,” said Franjieh.

For his part, the MEA chairman reiterated that commercial jets would be ready to depart from Beirut to Abidjan once the security situation allowed them to do so. “We will send at least two planes a day to Abidjan, if the area surrounding the airport is secured,” Hout told The Daily Star.

France also voiced its readiness to help other foreign nationals in Abidjan. A statement released by the French Embassy in Beirut said that French forces opened a new camp next to the French Embassy north of Abidjan and another camp next to Wafou Hotel south of city, after the Port Bouet camp failed to host more people in its facilities.

A prominent businessman living in Abidjan, Raad Samir said the important thing was to ensure the security of the Lebanese and not their evacuation. “But many Lebanese are trapped in the areas of violence where intense battles are taking place between Gbagbo’s and Ouattara’s forces,” he added. “It’s has become very dangerous.”

Copyright The Daily Star 2011.