OCHA Situation Report No. 31
Cote d'Ivoire
04-11 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. Political and Security Situation

The International Working Group (IWG), established pursuant to the 1633
UN Security Council Resolution, held its second monthly meeting
co-chaired by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General
(SRSG) in Cote d'Ivoire, Pierre Schori, and the Nigerian Foreign
Minister Oluyemi Adeniji on 06 December 2005. The newly-appointed
Prime-Minister Charles Konan Banny also attended the meeting. In the
communique issued at the end of the meeting, the IWG decided that due to
the expiry of the National Assembly's mandate on 16 December 2005,
pending the national consultations provided for by Resolution 1633, all
necessary legislation would be initiated by the Cabinet and submitted to
the President for signature.  The IWG expressed deep concern over
possible delays in the electoral process, as the Independent Electoral
Commission is not yet operational. Finally, the IWG considered and
updated the roadmap for the transitional period, which stipulates that
presidential elections should take place by the end of October 2006.

The SRSG reported to the UN Security Council, on 08 December 2005, that
during the second IWG meeting participants insisted on forming the new
government by 13 December 2005. The next IWG meeting is scheduled for 16
January 2006.

The newly-appointed Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny conducted a tour
to South Africa, Nigeria and Niger on 09-12 December 2005, where he held
discussions on possible ways of resolving the Ivorian crisis with Thabo
Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo and Mamadou Tanja.

On 10 December 2005, the Prime Minister visited the headquarters of
political parties in Abidjan, particulary, RDR (Rassemblement des
Republicains), FPI (Front Populaire Ivoirien), PIT (Parti ivoirien des
travailleurs), MFA (Mouvement des Forces d'Avenir) and UDCY (Union
Democratique Citoyenne). The Prime Minister conducted talks aimed at
forming a new Government and exchanged views on the peace process in
Cote d'Ivoire.

The number of armed robberies is soaring in Korhogo. On 08 and 10
December 2005, two robberies were committed and a 17-year old girl was
raped. OCHA-Korhogo reports that the Armed Forces of the Forces
Nouvelles are doing nothing about the crime wave.

II. Humanitarian Situation

Population movement

OCHA-Guiglo reported that 350 households of Internally-Displaced Persons
(IDP) had voluntarily returned to five (5) villages in the Duekoue
Department (Toa Zeo, Blody, Yrouzon, Sibably and Ponan). More than 4600
IDPs returned to three (3) villages in the CIB (Compagnie Ivoirienne de
Bois) zone, respectively 3.000 to CIB; 1600 to Sokoura and 1.000 to
Alhadjikro in the Departments of Blolequin and Guiglo

Water and Sanitation

The NGO CARE International signed a contract with the European Union
concerning the funding of the second stage of the garbage collection
sanitation project in Bouake. According to the contract, CARE
International will resume maintenance of garbage collection points in
January 2006. Meanwhile, garbage dumps are clogged since the first stage
of the project ended in October 2005.

On 08 December 2005, humanitarian partners held a meeting at the office
of OCHA-Korhogo to discuss the implementation of the UNICEF/DHH
(Department of Human Hydraulics, Ministry of Economic Infrastructure)
project on the repair of 700 water pumps repairs. During the meeting, it
was emphasized that the works could not start because of the lack of
spare parts. UNICEF engineer is awaited in Korhogo to assess the
situation with partner NGOs and prepare a file for the programme on
repair of additional pumps to be submitted to the EU, which is pursuing
its support for the rural water supply project.

UNICEF and DHH conducted a mission to Man from 08-11 December 2005 to
assess the progress of the repair works on hydraulic pumps in the 18
Montagnes region. The subcontractors (artisans) had already been
identified and spare parts will be delivered in the next days to start
the repairs of 309 pumps in 276 villages.

Health, incl. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

>From 04 to 11 December 2005, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
conducted a sensitization campaign on HIV/AIDS of the population of
Prollo, Soublake, Djamadioke, Pata idie, Nero village, and Yeouli (Taboo
Department). On the whole, 158 persons were sensitized. In the
above-mentioned villages IRC created monitoring committees, which will
pursue the sensitization on HIV/AIDS in the region.

French Peacekeeping Forces completed the rehabilitation of the Diourozon
Health Centre this week and the main nurse resumed her duties. UNICEF
supports the Health Centre with medicines through the Ministry of Health
of Cote d'Ivoire.

The NGO Save the Children - UK conducted an obstetrics training course
for (15) midwifes in Blolequin aimed at reducing post delivery death
risks and improving survival rate of newborn babies.

The NGO CAP ANAMUR based in Duekoue donated to the obstetrics ward of
Blolequin hospital mattresses and medical equipment to facilitate
consultations and deliveries.

The national polio vaccination campaign was launched on 13 December
2005. According to OCHA sub-offices, about 277.391 children under 5
years old are targeted in the Vallee de Bandama Region and 236.582 in
the 18 Montagnes region.

UNICEF supplied the National Red Cross Committee in Korhogo with vitamin
A and other medicines. The president of the Korhogo Red Cross Committee
declared that during the period from January-October 2005 his child
weighing centre received 4174 children. Among them, 416 children
suffered from severe malnutrition and 615 - from moderate malnutrition.

Two NGOs, Alliance Internationale and IDE (Initiative Developpement)
Africa, conducted a mission to Danane on 08 December 2005 within the
framework of the coordination measures on HIV/AIDS prevention. A
MSF/Holland representative informed the delegation that in spite of the
existence of an AIDS screening center in Danane, the patients are
referred to the Man Health Centre because of the lack of ARVs. In this
context Alliance Internationale plans to deliver ARVs to the Danane
hospital and to establish partnership with IDE Africa to expand
sensitization and treatment of patients in Danane, Zouan Hounien and Bin
Houye.

Education

The acting Minister of National Education, Michel Amani N' Guessan, met
with UN agencies and humanitarian partners on 09 December 2005 to
discuss the organization of school exams in areas under Forces Nouvelles
(FN) control. During the meeting Mr. N'Guessan called on the
International Community to provide financial and security support to the
Ivorian authorities to enable them to organize the exams. The UNICEF
Resident Representative and Interim Humanitarian Coordinator in Cote
d'Ivoire, Youssouf Oomar, reaffirmed the commitment of the International
community to support the organization of exams in FN-held zones, but
asked for some time to plan the appropriate humanitarian response. The
French Peace Keeping Forces said they would also need to reflect on the
situation before deciding on their involvement in the organization of
the exams. The Forces Nouvelles were not present since Colonel-Major
Bamba Sinima, the Chairman of Schools and Examinations Committee in
FN-held zones, indicated that the FN were of the view that Minister
Amani is no longer empowered to engage in such meetings after the
appointment of the new Prime Minister, Konan Banny. He further added
that if Minister Amani had been truly interested in holding the said
exams, he would have carried them out before 30 October 2005.

On 09 December 2005, UNICEF handed over to Fengolo community two
rehabilitated and equipped schools. The ceremony was chaired by the
Military Governor of the Moyen Cavally Region in the presence of the
UNICEF Resident Representative and the delegate of the National
Education Minister. The guests, in their addresses to the meeting,
underlined the success of the intercommunity reconciliation in Fengolo
thanks to the people's determination. However, during the ceremony, the
pupils of the schools rehabilitated by the subcontractor EAT
demonstrated to express their discontent with the quality of their
school rehabilitation in comparison with the school rehabilitated by
another contractor.

During a press conference held in Bouake on 07 December 2005, the Forces
Nouvelles School and Exams Committee announced that the 2005-2006
academic year in the FN zone would be split into two semesters: from 05
December 2005 to 24 March 2006 and from 27 March- 07 July 2006. School
exams will be conducted from 18 July-19 August 2006.

During the education sector group meeting in Korhogo on 08 December
2005, the representative of the Regional Education Department (DREN)
provided an assessment of the situation in the area. He underlined that
in spite of the failure to organize exams and the shortage of teachers,
the new academic year started off. In the Savanes Region, about 60.000
schoolchildren enrolled in primary schools. Meanwhile, the secondary
school enrolment remains low though the beginning of the term is planned
for next week. In Man the FN authorities decided to pay registration
fees for 400 second year students in order to encourage parents and
children to resume studies despite the present difficulties.

Protection

During the week under review IRC conducted 4 sensitization training
courses in Gozon, Pata Idie, Nero village, Yeouli, Boubele, Soublake and
Djamadioke (Taboo Department) on family reunification of children
separated from their parents during armed conflicts. On the whole, 186
persons participated in the training courses.

The Bouake protection sector group held a meeting on 06 December 2005.
The participants discussed recommendations on the situation of minor
prostitutes. In order to take efficient actions and pull out these girls
from their current situation, members of the sector group will identify
local NGOs to cater for the training, psychosocial and medical care and
social reintegration of the girls in question.

Social cohesion

On 05-08 December 2005, the Cote d'Ivoire Red Cross Committee conducted
training for women promoters of the plan "Reduction of intra community
tensions". This plan is implemented by the European Union and the
Spanish Red Cross Committee in collaboration with the Cote d'Ivoire Red
Cross within the framework of the National post-crisis rehabilitation
Emergency Programme. This training was intended for women responsible
for conducting a sensitization campaign on peace, non-violence and
community conflicts resolution.

Food Security

WFP continues to distribute vegetable seeds in some villages of the
Duekoue Department and to assist primary school canteens in the Moyen
Cavally Region. OCHA-Guiglo is monitoring the advocacy for assistance to
the canteen of Toulepleu secondary school, which is experiencing
difficulties because of the arrival of new students from Bin Houye and
Zouan Hounien.

Coordination

OCHA, FAO, IOM and the NGO Solidarites, conducted a joint evaluation
mission to the area between Blolequin and the ZOC, with a population of
20.000-30.000 people. The team confirmed that more displaced persons
were returning to their villages of origin but emphasized their
difficult living conditions, especially for women and children.
Humanitarian partners noted serious sanitation problems in the area and
indicated that water wells as well as latrines require urgent
rehabilitation. Children have been denied access to school since the
crisis broke out in September 2002. The NGO Solidarites is ready to
participate in the rehabilitation of bridges, schools and water wells.
Solidarities prepared an estimate of costs for potential donors.

On 10 December 2005, the authorities of Forces Nouvelles held a meeting
with URECO-CI (Union regionale des entreprises cooperatives de la zone
de savane de Cote d'Ivoire) and cotton producers to discuss the ways out
of the crisis for the local cotton industry. The majority of the rural
population suffers from low incomes due to difficulties faced by the
cotton industry. OCHA-Korhogo reported the situation is particularly
difficult in the URECO-CI zone. This organization, which does not have
sufficient liquid assets, proposed to buy cotton, but this was refused
by the authorities of the Forces Nouvelles.

IV. Resource Mobilization (11 December 2005 according to FTS)

Out of a total amount of USD 36.431.798 estimated under the revised CAP
2005, USD 17.073.611 dollars are currently available, representing
46.90%. Since the previous week, the funding has increased by USD
2.186.854 or around 6.1%. This funding concerns HCR.

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