A/HRC/17/49 Lahou to verify allegations of mass killings by Liberian mercenaries. The findings are that at least 17 civilians and 6 FRCI elements were killed in Irobo while 22 civilians and 4 FRCI members were killed in Grand Lahou. The 7 people killed in Dabou were 4 civilians and 3 FRCI members. 27. There is a fear that, if not controlled, disarmed and reintegrated into their areas and/or countries of origin, the retreating militias and mercenaries who were dislodged from the suburbs of Yopougon and Abobo by FRCI forces could continue a campaign to target and kill civilians indiscriminately. Those armed groups could also threaten regional stability by offering their services to other fighting forces in neighbouring countries. This is raising security concerns specifically for Liberia, which is still recovering from a legacy of armed conflicts and will have elections in 2011. Liberia and Ghana are bearing the brunt of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire both in terms of refugee flow, transnational rebel movements and the proliferation of small arms. VI. Sexual and gender-based violence 28. While a number of cases of sexual and gender-based violence were reported during the reporting period, access to appropriate assistance for victims remained a major concern, especially during the conflict, when most clinics had either closed down or were seriously affected. Nonetheless, the relevant stakeholders continued to provide responses to individual cases that were brought to their attention. The Human Rights Division of UNOCI has documented the following cases, although it is extremely likely that many other cases went unreported. 29. On 7 February, unidentified armed men ambushed a bus in Fengolo (5km north of Duékoué) and raped five women. On 27 February, in Seboni II (200km north of Bouaké), members of the Forces Nouvelles allegedly raped a 23-year-old woman. On 19 March, in Williamsville, three young Malian girls were allegedly raped by members of a militia group that attacked their residence. On 3 May, in the Yopougon-Siporex neighbourhood, a 32year-old woman was raped by men believed to be members of the FRCI. The incident happened when she was found hiding in a college building. The victim told Human Rights Officers that her assailants, dressed in military uniforms and armed, accused her of assisting the militias. In one of the rape cases documented by the Human Rights Division, the assault resulted in the death of the victim. On 17 May, in the Petit Paris neighbourhood in Korhogo, a 17-year-old was gang-raped. She stated that she was seized at about 1.00 am by a group of six men who alleged they were a dozo (traditional hunters) vigilante group. 30. On the night of 22 May, two sisters aged seven were reportedly abducted while playing outside their home in the 220 Logements neighbourhood in Yamoussoukro. After a search mounted by their family and neighbours, one of them was found in a traumatized state near the École Primaire Public Zaher while the body of the other was found in a nearby bush. Medical analysis revealed that the deceased child had been raped and physically assaulted before her death. A 27-year-old woman was raped by an unidentified armed man on the night of 1-2 May 2011 in the Zanzan neighbourhood in Bondoukou. All the victims received medical attention. VII. Internal displacement and refugees 31. The heightened level of insecurity combined with armed confrontations between security forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo and the Forces Nouvelles/FRCI and Commando Invisible, as well as inter-community clashes in many parts of the west, resulted in a humanitarian crisis which led to a massive displacement of the population. As of 30 May 10

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