BOUAKE, 7 August 2007 (IRIN) - Untold numbers of women have become victims of sexual violence at the hands of rebel and government forces in Cote d'Ivoire, according to human rights organisations. Estelle Kouakou, 21, is one such woman who told her story to IRIN:

When the war began I was living with my grandmother in the village of Afoumossou but she said it would be better if I went to Abidjan [the commercial capital] to be with my brothers.

To get there I had to take the train at Bamoro. At the railway station four men came up to me. They had weapons and wore military garb though I don't know which camp they belonged to.

One of them grabbed me by the neck and knocked me to the ground. He and others beat me and then one by one they raped me.

It was violent.

Since then I have felt bad. I am fearful. I can't stop thinking about what happened. I'm not the same person that I was before.

I have since tested positive for HIV.

In Abidjan my family and friends have rejected me. No one wants to eat off the same plate as me. They think even by talking to me they will contract the virus.

I feel I've lost everything. If I hadn't been raped I would never have contracted the virus.

At first I wanted vengeance. Now I just want help with my health.

I want my life back."

ha/cb/dh

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