Pope sends envoy to Ivory Coast in hopes of restoring peace

Description: Baltimore, Md., Mar 31, 2011 / 12:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Baltimore, Maryland. - Catholic Relief Service is working to provide immediate aid to over 100000 refugees who've fled the Ivory Coast amid rising political turmoil in the country. "The two main needs are shelter and food," Brian Gleeson, the relief agency's West Africa representative, told CNA March 30. The Ivory Coast is on the brink of civil war, with outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo recruiting thousands of young people to fight on his behalf against domestic and international backers of his rival, president-elect Alassane Ouattara. Gleeson said that since the presidential election in the country last November, violence has already claimed hundreds of lives and forced over 1 million people from their homes. With offices in neighboring Liberia, where most refugees have fled, Catholic Relief Services is in the process of constructing 1000 shelters in eight villages, which will provide housing for 5000 people. The agency reported that most of the refugees have arrived in the border towns of Nimba County, where there are few housing options. The displaced often find themselves in overcrowded homes of host families, sleep outdoors exposed to the elements and lack basic needs such as cooking utensils or showers. The relief organization is also working to provide immediate food aid to refugees and plans to help Liberian host communities and refugee families prepare land to grow rice. The country's deteriorating