UNHCR to close West African offices

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, is to close its offices in seven West African countries because of a shortage of funds.

A senior UNHCR official in the region, Dillah Doumaye, said the work of the organisation would still be carried out by its local partners, but without the supervision of the UNHCR.

Mr Doumaye said the organisation had repeatedly asked the international community for funds, but not enough money had been made available. UNHCR offices will be closed in Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Chad, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service