More than 10 000 Ivorians have fled to Liberia since the sharp escalation in Ivory Coast's civil war 10 days ago, the United Nations refugee agency said. The latest figure is more than double those given by the UNHCR on November 10, when it estimated that between 3 000 and 5 000 Ivorians had fled to Liberia. Refugees were fleeing Ivory Coast because of the fear of renewed violence, but were not being forced out by fighting on the ground, it was emphasised.