May 11 2005
Calm restored in Togo
11/05/2005 - After the violent riots which followed the presidential elections, the situation in the Togolese capital of Lomé has been normalised for the time being. Also the SOS children, SOS mothers and other SOS Children's Village employees can go on with their day to day activities, despite a few precautionary measures.
All publicly and privately-run schools and kindergartens which have been closed since 26 March opened on 9 May, and the children from the SOS Children's Village in Lomé can also start attending class again. Village director Aurelien Ajavon stated that the situation has been normalised after the unrest which followed the presidential elections which took place on 24 April. The children are not troubled and can move about relatively freely, however, they are not to go too far away from the SOS Children's Village for safety reasons. "We have reassured the children that nothing can happen to them here in the village," said Aurelien Ajavon.
Should the situation worsen again, however, and should this represent a danger to the SOS children and SOS mothers, they can all be promptly evacuated to the neighbouring country of Benin. Banks and markets have also been re-opened, though the prices for food remain high. The SOS mothers will again carefully increase the amount of supply on stock which they put aside before the crisis.
See also the News from 27 April 2005.