The organisation, which represents 600 million evangelicals around the world, said it was “deeply concerned” by the violence, loss of life and humanitarian crisis.

In a statement, it called for the cessation of hostilities and the protection of all civilians caught up in the conflict.

It urged the “orderly” transition of political power in respect of the outcome of the recent presidential election.

Incumbent Gbagbo has been clinging to power since the election last November, won by his rival Alassane Ouattara. The international community recognises Ouattara as the president of the Ivory Coast.

Fighting between forces loyal to Gbagbo and those loyal to Ouattara has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with up to a quarter million refugees fleeing from the country.

Ouattara has denied the involvement of his forces in the massacre of hundreds of civilians in the western town of Duékoué. The mass killing has prompted thousands of people to seek refuge in a church compound.

The WEA called for the perpetrators of atrocities committed since the election to be held accountable and brought to justice.

Secretary General, Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, said: “For the sake of an entire generation of children at risk in the Ivory Coast, I urge immediate action in response to this tragic situation.”

Forces loyal to Ouattara today surrounded the presidential palace in the main city of Abidjan, with the support of UN and French helicopters.

UN helicopters have been involved in assaults on Gbagbo’s forces, including their military camp in Abidjan.

Thousands of civilians have fled the city on buses out of the main station. Others have fled on foot, walking for days to reach relative safety in neighbouring Liberia.

The UN Refugee Agency said that fighting had forced up to one million people to leave the city.

Tearfund’s Country Representative for the Ivory Coast, Bapatope Akinwande, said there had been a mass exodus of people from the city, leaving it almost empty.

“People are being displaced into Liberia and as far away as Mali and Burkina Faso. It’s becoming a very grave humanitarian situation,” said Akinwande.

Six Tearfund partners are present in western Ivory Coast providing health services and implementing water and sanitation projects to help displaced people.
As an indication of the gravity of the situation, the aid agency said that in some areas there were only ten toilets for 240,000 people.