OCHA Situation Report No. 32
Cote d'Ivoire
11-18 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. Political and Security Situation

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cote d'Ivoire,
Pierre Schori, met the new Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny on 13
December 2005. During the meeting, Mr. Schori reiterated the
congratulations expressed by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan,
to Mr. Banny on his appointment as Prime Minister, the ONUCI Spokesman
Mr. Hamadoun Toure announced. He also reaffirmed the international
community's availability to support the Prime Minister's actions in
order to ensure the success of his mission for the benefit of the
Ivorian population. The Spokesman added that ONUCI was awaiting the
formation of the government with much "hope and confidence" so that they
could work together on the implementation of the roadmap.

On 15 December 2005, the United Nations Security Council renewed for
another year the arms embargo as well as the travel and financial
restrictions imposed on those deemed to threaten the peace process,
while also deciding to ban imports of raw diamonds from the country. The
Council considered that the situation in Cote d'Ivoire continues to
undermine peace and international security in the region and decided to
extend to 15 December 2006 the provisions of paragraphs 7-12 of
Resolution 1572 (2004) concerning the embargo on arms including
aircrafts.

The Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, resumed consultations with
Ivorian key political stakeholders on 15 December 2005, prior to the
formation of a new government. He met with the Head of State, Laurent
Gbagbo, the leader of RDR (Rassemblement des Republicains), Alassane
Dramane and the Chairman of the PDCI-RDA (Parti Democratique de Cote
d'Ivoire - Rassemblement Democratique Africain) Henri Konan Bedie.

II. Humanitarian Situation

Population movement

On 13 and 16 December 2005, OCHA and IOM facilitated two missions by
delegates of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) currently sheltered in
Blolequin, Guiglo and Duekoue to their villages of origin: Kahin,
Pinhou, Zou, Bably and Zeregbo (Zou Sub-prefecture in the Confidence
zone). Peter Neussl, OCHA-CI Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer, and
representative of the Norwegian Refugee Council took part in the second
mission. IDP delegates interacted with the local population in order to
assess the living conditions and security situation in the villages. The
local population welcomed the return of the IDPs. However, they
expressed concerns about the withdrawal of ONUCI troops from Zeregbo on
12 December 2005. They are worried about the traditional hunters, the
"Dozos", establishing roadblocks and about illegal gold traders hostile
towards local civilians. The IDPs delegates plan other visits to the
villages to discuss details of the return of the IDPs.

HCR facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 125 Liberian refugees from
Danane (18 Montagnes Region) to Nimba County and Mount Serado regions in
Liberia on 14 December 2005.

Water and Sanitation

On 12 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 Infrastructures)
project on the repair of 700 hydraulic pumps. The participants noticed
that agreements had been signed with the NGOs concerned, 60% of the
funding had been transferred and almost all spare parts were delivered.

In Bouake, municipal dumps are clogged up, as the transportation of
garbage from dumps to landfills is not assured. CARE International could
not find a solution to the problem with local authorities. In this
situation, OCHA-Bouake recommended to hold a meeting with local NGOs
cooperating with CARE International in order to sensitize the population
to participate in the implementation of sanitation projects in the city.

Health, incl. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

The Bonguera Health Centre (Vallee du Bandama), which had been closed
because of its inaccessibility, was re-opened on 02 December 2005.
UNICEF provided the Centre with medical equipment, and drugs to treat
10.000 patients for three months and vaccines for children and pregnant
women.

WHO and UNICEF facilitated the fifth stage of the national polio
vaccination campaign conducted from 13-14 December. According to OCHA
sub offices, 108% of targeted children were vaccinated in the Savanes
Region and 105.5% - in the 18 Montagnes Region (100.7% in Man, 98.4% in
Bangolo, 94.9% in Biankouma and 123.7% in Danane).

ONUCI BanBatt deployed in Man provided free medical care to the local
population on 12-13 December 2005. Some 700 people received medical
treatment during these days.

Education

Because school examinations in zones under the control of the Forces
Nouvelles could not be conducted, the Technical Orientation Commission
decided to promote CM2 pupils to Form 1 and those in Form 4 to Form 5
based on their average marks. On 15 December 2005, the Commission
announced that in the Savanes Region, 6508 out of 7945 CM2 pupils or
81.91 % were promoted to Form 1 and 2063 out of 3203 students in Form 4
to Form 5 representing 64.40%. The Korhogo DREN (Regional Education
Department) official declared that the deadline for enrollment was fixed
on 31 December 2005 and classes would start on 02 January 2006. In the
Vallee de Bandama Region, 5072 out of 12.818 CM2 pupils or 39.56 %, were
promoted to Form 1 (or 47.25% including private secondary schools) and
1426 out of 2908 Form 4 students (49.03 %) were promoted to Form 5.
Statistics in Man and Guiglo are not yet available.

Protection

The NGO OSEAC (Organisation Socio-Educative d'Animation Communautaire)
opened a Child Centre called CEPA (Centre Enfant Pavanati Alexandra) in
Bouake on 14 December 2005. This Centre will contribute to the
development of children in general, and OEV (orphans and HIV positive
children) in particular. French Peacekeeping Forces provided the Centre
with food (cookies) and non-food items (tables, chairs, didactic
materials).

The NGO ASAPSU (Association de Soutien a l'Autopromotion Sanitaire et
Urbaine) supported by UNICEF, completed the training of 510 Community
workers called "messengers of peace" in the West of the country
(Bangolo, Toulepleu, Guiglo and Duekoue). The official certificates were
issued on 17 December 2005 in Bangolo in the presence of local
authorities, representatives of ONUCI and French Peacekeeping Forces,
humanitarian partners and several peace messengers previously trained in
the region.

During the period under review, WFP delivered monthly food rations to
906 children in Blolequin. On the whole, 30 tonnes of food were
distributed in different sites in Blolequin.

Social cohesion

The first meeting of the Social Cohesion sector group was attended in
Guiglo by OCHA, FAO, IOM, SCUK, ASAPSU, MSF-France, CARE International,
IRC and Solidarites. Participants discussed social cohesion issues and
stressed the need to intensify efforts by humanitarian organizations in
this field. It was recommended to work out a concerted response plan,
develop community programmes for a minimum period of one year and
implicate local authorities in the rehabilitation and assistance for
community infrastructures.

In order to promote social cohesion in the villages of Blole-Tropkadrou,
Bigouin and Boagleu, the NGO CARE International supports reconciliation
projects with income generating activities. Fish, pig and poultry
breeding projects are implemented. In the village of Bigouin, Care
International is organizing bridge repairs.

Food Security

WFP and National School Canteens Department conducted a mission to
Bouake to assess the situation of school canteens in the Bouake region,
where WFP is assisting some 110.831 schoolchildren through 474 canteens.
The delegation held meetings with humanitarian partners deployed on the
ground to discuss results of the 2004-2005 academic year and to plan
humanitarian activities for the 2005-2006 academic year.

FAO is conducting the evaluation of 2005 harvest in the Moyen Cavally
Region on the basis of data gathered on 128 households in villages of
the Sub-Prefectures of Guiglo, Blolequin, Pehe, Duekoue and Guehiebly.
The 503 (United Sates) and 501 (Belgium) market gardening programmes are
being pursued in the Moyen Cavally region targeting 1568 beneficiaries,
mainly women.

IV. Resource Mobilization (18 December 2005 according to FTS)

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

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