OCHA Situation Report No. 30
Cote d'Ivoire
27 November - 4 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. Political and Security Situation

On 04 December 2005, Charles Konan Banny, Governor of the Central Bank
of West African States, was appointed as Prime Minister after more than
a month of negotiations to find a candidate acceptable to Gbagbo and the
opposition. The appointment was announced during the visit to Abidjan of
the South African President Thabo Mbeki and his Nigerian counterpart,
Olusegun Obasanjo, who arrived in Cote d'Ivoire on behalf of the African
Union from Bamako, where the 23rd Africa-France summit was held. In
Abidjan, the mediators held a meeting with the main political parties,
which accepted Charles Konan Banny as the new transitional Prime
minister.

On 01 December 2005, at about 20h00, unidentified gunmen attacked the
para-military barracks in Agban area of Abidjan. Shooting was also heard
in other parts of the city, lasting about 30 minutes. According to the
military police, the attackers arrived at Agban in small groups and
tried to take over the barracks. However, the para-military forces
managed to chase away the attackers. Immediately, the National Armed
Forces (FANCI) blocked roads in and around Abidjan and conducted a
mopping up operation. According to a press communique issued by the
FANCI, two policemen were slightly wounded during the attack and two
suspects were arrested.

Mr. Juan Mendes, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on
prevention of genocide, conducted a mission to Guiglo, Bangolo, Fengolo,
Guitrozon and Duekoue on 02 December 2005. During the visit, the
delegation met with the leader of the FLGO, Mr. Maho, who indicated that
the militia in the West would not disarm if the newly appointed PM did
not meet their criteria. He added that the militia were independent and
did not enjoy any support from the President's Office or any other
institution.  Meanwhile, the Military Governor of Duekoue stated that he
worked closely with the militia, which he described as armed resistance
groups. The mission was very impressed by the achievements made by the
humanitarian actors in Fengolo, particularly as regards the reactivation
of the Peace Committee. During the town hall meeting, the villagers of
Fengolo expressed their gratitude for the assistance provided by the UN
to facilitate their return.  Efforts to rebuild social cohesion produced
visible results as Fengolo IDPs at the Duekoue Catholic Mission returned
to their homes.

On 30 November 2005, the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, launched the
Consolidated Appeal for 2006, in favour of countries affected by
humanitarian crisis or major natural disasters. The Humanitarian
Coordinator in Cote d'Ivoire, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, was invited to speak
from Abidjan by video link, on behalf of the humanitarian actors in the
field. Mr. Mar Dieye underlined the deepening poverty and
vulnerabilities of the Ivorian people facing the situation, as 50% of
the rural population in the North and the West cannot be guaranteed the
supply of potable water and 60% of the basic medical facilities are not
functioning. He appealed to donors to release funds to help meet the
basic humanitarian needs of the Ivorian population.

UN Police and Duekoue education authorities reported an incident that
took place at the local Modern Secondary School on 28 November 2005. A
group of school children protesting against the appointment of one of
their mates to a post within the Federation of Student Unions of Cote
d'Ivoire (FESCI) by a delegation from Abidjan rushed into the school
armed with machetes. As a result of a clash between supporters and
opponents to the appointment, one child was seriously injured and
hospitalized while several others received minor injuries.

II. Humanitarian Situation

Population movement

OCHA-Guiglo reported that 230 IDP households who voluntarily returned to
their villages had been registered by humanitarian partners in Blody,
Toa Zeo and Yrouzon (Duekoue department). OCHA emphasised that the
returnees are in urgent need of food and non-food items. HCR in
partnership with IOM is assessing its stock for a possible assistance
with return kits (non-food items). WFP plans an assessment mission on
the ground in order to identify the beneficiaries for assistance in the
form of food items and seeds. The returned IDPs still lack access to
portable water. Therefore, the rehabilitation of hydraulic pumps and/or
the development of already existing wells are on the top of the
humanitarian agenda in the villages in question. OCHA-Guiglo is waiting
for the reaction to the advocacy for urgent intervention in these
villages addressed to the NGOs Solidarites-Guiglo and IRC-Man.

In the course of this week OCHA-Man conducted a mission to Kouibly as
part of the monitoring of humanitarian and security situation. It was
established that IDPs have been returning to the area for several weeks,
following the improvement of the situation on the ground. The number of
returnees was not assessed as they return in small separate groups.

Water and Sanitation

OCHA-Guiglo undertook a visit of works on the Guiglo-Blolequin main road
(hydraulic pumps, latrines, wells and garbage dumps) conducted by the
NGO Solidarites with HCR funding. OCHA noted following achievements on
the ground: 322 out of 426 latrines were completed, 29 of 29 identified
pumps were rehabilitated with fences built around. As a part of the
sanitation of Blolequin, 41 garbage collection points and two landfills
were completed. Solidarites will hand over to the local authorities a
tractor for garbage collection to facilitate sanitation activities in
the town. At the same time, Solidarites, financed by UE, is conducting
other programmes to rehabilitate hydraulic pumps, improve water wells,
build and sensitize the population in hygiene, reactivation and training
of management committees on the Guiglo-Tai main road.

>From 03 - 04 December 2005, the National Water Supply Network (SODECI)
cut off water supply to the city of Man due to maintenance works at the
water treatment station.

In reaction to the advocacy formulated in the OCHA weekly update n - 28
(06-20 November 2005), IRC conducted an assessment mission to the
villages of Blody, Toa Zeo and Yrozon to plan a possible humanitarian
intervention.

Health, incl. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

On 01 December 2005, on the occasion of World AIDS Day commemorated
worldwide devoted to the theme "Stop AIDS. Keep the promise", Ivorian
authorities organized a ceremony in San Pedro in the presence of the
Minister for HIV/AIDS, Mrs. Christine Adjobi, the US Ambassador, UNICEF,
chair of the HIV/AIDS theme group and humanitarian partners. The theme
for this year's World AIDS Day in Cote d'Ivoire was "Woman, Girl and
HIV-AIDS". The Minister addressed the participants and stressed that
because of the political and military crisis facing Cote d'Ivoire; the
country has been recording frightening figures on the AIDS pandemic,
especially among women, girls and young people. Mrs. Adjobi declared
that to further accelerate the humanitarian response to HIV/AIDS, it is
necessary to develop strategy to combat the pandemic and ensure access
to AIDS treatment.

International Rescue Committee (IRC) organized a 6-day training in
Yamoussoukro (from 28 November to 04 December 2005) for local healthcare
workers on emergency obstetrics. The aim of the training was to increase
the effectiveness and quality of obstetrics care.

The NGO SC-UK re-opened its office in Grabo in order to carry on the
mobile clinic programme in nearby villages. The SC-UK mobile clinic in
Fengolo successfully provides services and populations from neighbouring
villages considered as "foreigners" receive medical treatment.

In the framework of the 18th World AIDS Day; the NGO Caritas, supported
by HCR, conducted a campaign to sensitize refugees sheltered at Nicla
camp to adopt responsible sexual behaviors and help and accept people
living with HIV/AIDS within the community. A sensitization ceremony was
followed by a football match between humanitarian actors and young
refugees at Nicla camp.

MSF-France provided care to 45 children suffering from severe
malnutrition at the Nutritional and Therapeutic Centre (CNT) in Guiglo.
According to MSF-F, most of the malnourished children suffer from the
linked pathologies. Therefore malnutrition in Guiglo is not necessarily
a problem of access to food.

UNICEF organized series of trainings on nutrition issues for the health
workers of Korhogo region from 29 to 30 November 2005. These health
workers are supposed to act as trainers for their colleagues in other
areas of Korhogo region. UNICEF organized another training course on
nutrition for local community health workers from 01 to 04 December
2005.

Education

The German NGO CAPE ANAMUR recently opened its office in Duekoue and
plans to rehabilitate three public secondary schools in Guezon, Guinglo
Zia and Bagohouo (Duekoue department). Two of the schools (in Guniglo
Zia and Bagohouo) were identified during the joint mission facilitated
by OCHA on 22 November 2005.

Two (2) Fengolo public schools rehabilitated by UNICEF opened classes
for 250 and 135 children respectively. Almost all vacancies for teachers
have been filled (three posts are still vacant), while the equipment
(tables-benches, offices, chairs and educational supplies) ordered have
been delivered. The official ceremony for handing over the schools is
planned for 09 December 2005 and will be held in the presence of the
UNCEF Representative, Mr. Youssouf Oumar, the Minister of State for
Economic Infrastructures, Mr. Patrick Achi, and other officials from
Abidjan.

Protection

On 01 December 2005, OCHA and the NGO Save the Children-Sweden conducted
a joint assessment mission to Akwaba and Moussakro areas of Abidjan,
where about 10.000 people had been left homeless as a result of the
clearance of slums on 29-30 November 2005, ordered by the local
authorities. The Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Youssouf Oumar, issued a
communique and addressed a letter to the Governor of Abidjan District,
Mr. Pierre Amondji, expressing his deep concern and appealing to the
national and local authorities to provide protection and urgent
assistance to people rendered homeless and find alternative solutions in
accordance with basic Human Rights and Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement.

Since 28 November 2005, IRC has conducted sensitization campaign on
human rights for the authorities of Forces Nouvelles in 20 villages in
the 18 Montagnes region as part of its programme on gender violence.

HCR continues to support the voluntary repatriation of Liberian
refugees, even if their number has decreased, apparently due to the
ongoing agricultural activities in the area. HCR, in collaboration with
partner NGOs, GTZ, Caritas and ASA (Afrique Secours et Assistance), and
the Department of support and assistance to refugees and stateless
persons (SAARA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire
conducted sensitization missions to Toulepleu and Danane to identify
candidates for voluntary repatriation.

IOM carried out a mission to some villages of Zou Sub-prefecture to
assess the overall security and humanitarian situation, in order to
prepare for the voluntary return of Internally Displaced Persons
currently sheltered in Guiglo and Duekoue. The NGO CARE International is
pursuing the social cohesion programme in the Moyen Cavally region. The
ceremony of reconciliation between Burkina and Kaade communities is
planned for 06 December 2005. Since the start of the mediation campaign,
the so-called foreigners started to visit Kaade on market days.

The NGO ASA (Afrique Secours et Assistance) conducted an assessment
mission to five (5) villages along the Guiglo-Toulepleu main road to
prepare the implementation of the Child Prevention, Disarmament and
Reintegration (PDR) programme. Within the framework of the programme,
funded by UNICEF, the NGO SC-UK will train the personnel of ASA and
local Community Centre on PDR.

On 30 November - 01 December 2005, the National Association of Support
to Childhood in Danger, facilitated by the NGO SC-UK, conducted a
training course for the personnel of humanitarian partners (WFP-Korhogo,
ICRC and local NGOs from Korhogo, Ferkessedougou and Ouangolo) on
problems of children associated with armed forces and children separated
from the families.

Social cohesion

>From 21 to 29 November 2005, CARE International-Bouake, UNDP and Search
for Common Ground conducted two workshops on Community Rehabilitation
projects in Yamoussoukro. The first workshop held from 21 - 22
considered the results of the study, which identified four (4) zones for
implementing projects in Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and Man. During
the second workshop, held from 23 to 29 November 2005, the participants
discussed the planning and conditions for participating in humanitarian
projects in the targeted areas.

Food Security

During the period under review, FAO and NGO partners IFS, ODAFEM and IDE
Afrique, conducted a mission to the Logouale zone to monitor the
implementation of FAO agricultural projects in market gardening.
According to FAO, the programme was implemented satisfactorily and
provided benefits to 7524 participating households.

A delegation from the European Union (EU) arrived in Korhogo on 03
December 2005 to monitor various projects funded by the EU in the North
of Cote d'Ivoire. Upon its arrival, the EU delegation held a meeting
with Korhogo municipal authorities and representatives of cotton
production companies such as URECO-CI. The EU delegation also met with
the NGO ACF-France, which is implementing the project on rehabilitation
of 350 hydraulic pumps in the surrounding villages, financed by EU.

IV. Resource Mobilization (04 December 2005 according to FTS)

No new contributions were reported by Financial Tracking Service (FTS)

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