PRESS RELEASE  - Shoreline Team and Bothell Church Come To The Aid Of Ivory Coast Refugees

Contact: Alain Adjorlolo, Secretary and Spokesperson

(206) 364-4588

adjor@gte.net  

(Shoreline, WA - December 22, 2003) The destruction of health care facilities and the interruption of health programs are continuing to have a devastating impact on the health of local populations, internally displaced persons and refugees of the Ivory Coast and Liberian wars.

Ivory Coast Medical Relief Team, a non-profit organization based in Shoreline, WA, and Northwest Medical Teams of Portland, OR, have teamed to send a second container of critically needed medicines to refugee centers of Western Ivory Coast to serve Ivorian and Liberian war refugees.  This 20-foot container of medicines, which includes antibiotics, IV solutions, oral re-hydration salts, etc., and is valued at $1,342,890.66, was distributed on December 4, 2003 in the western towns of Guiglo, Danané and Toulepleu. ICMRT is raising money to cover the cost of 8 additional containers expected to ship in the coming year.

“My family and I used to take suitcases of medical supplies with us during our trips to the Ivory Coast; but, that was before the current crisis” says Elizabeth Gaskill, board member and treasurer of ICMRT. Her Ivorian relatives live in a small village 16 miles from the Liberian border. She has seen the region’s health care resources become scarcer since the first Liberian war started in 1989, and the first waves of Liberians sought refuge among the villagers. “The recent wars on both sides of the border, the lack of government control, and insecurity, have made the situation dire. These medicines, which will be distributed by our partners in the Ivory Coast, are going to make a huge difference. I want to thank the members of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bothell whose incredible generosity has made shipment of this second container possible.” Shipping and distribution of this second container was $14,500, half of which was provided by the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bothell.

ICMRT is dedicated to providing medical assistance to the displaced and refugee populations of the Ivory Coast and Liberian war living in Ivory Coast, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion or political affiliation.

To make a financial gift call (206)-361-1456 or (206) 533-1998, or mail gifts to:  

Ivory Coast Medical Relief Team,

14817 Linden Ave. North

Shoreline, WA 98133-6514