IRC Urges Increased U.S. Humanitarian Assistance For Ivory Coast Conflict

The IRC is pressing Washington to increase efforts to resolve the Ivory Coast conflict and provide more humanitarian assistance in the region.

The IRC's West Africa regional director, Robert Warwick, and program advocate Anike Buche, held meetings Wednesday at Congress, the State Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and called for more diplomatic activity to support peace talks in Paris between the Abidjan government and rebel groups.

They also appealed for greater humanitarian assistance, saying aid organizations are struggling to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

"If the peace talks falter, we'll be dealing with the potential for an escalation in the fighting and greater population displacement, and will require considerable additional funds," Warwick said.