OCHA Situation Report No. 18
Cote d'Ivoire
28 August - 4 September 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. Political and Security Situation

The programme of demobilization of the armed groups in the Great West
region is proceeding as planned. According to the National Committee for
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of the ex-combatants
(CNDDR), as of 01 September 2005, a total of 851 combatants have been
registered in Duekoue; 1180 - in Pehe (Toulepleu sub prefecture); 1449 -
in Blolequin and 1590 - in Guiglo.

UN Civilian Police (CIVPOL) at Guiglo reported about incidents at
Dioulabougou, Bohoussoukro, Konedougou, Gahably (sub prefecture Guezon
on the Duekoue-Guessabo axis) between the local population and people
considered as foreigners. Local population reportedly fled the villages
following the incidents. Moreover, inter-community tensions stirred up
by the death of a civilian during a hunting incident, nearly provoked a
serious confrontation in Timotekro village (10 km. of Guiglo on
Guiglo-Duekue axis). The incident quickly turned into an ethnic crisis
(Yakuba and Wen). CIVPOL along with defense and security forces
dispatched on the scene managed to bring the situation in the village
under control.

OCHA sub-office at Man reported that on the night from 28 to 29 August
2005, an element of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) was
shot dead in Man. The competent authorities opened an investigation,
however, the perpetrator has not been identified so far. Meanwhile,
French Peacekeeping Forces reported that a Burkina Faso national had
been stabbed to death on 01 September 2005 in Beoue village
(Bangolo-Duekoue axis).

In the North of the country, the Boundiali population continues to be
exposed to frequent robberies. Korhogo OCHA sub-office received
information that unidentified bandits robbed some twenty people on the
Pindjou-Ponondougou road on 27 August 2005. Earlier this month, attacks
conducted on 15-20 August 2005 on Boundiali-Dianra axis had resulted in
the death of a civilian.

The confrontation between Dioula and Senoufo communities at Waragniene
village (5 km of Korhogo) arises a lot of worries. According to French
Peacekeeping Forces, on 27 August 2005, as a result of the clashes
conducted with cutlasses and clubs, some 41 persons were injured, 11
among them seriously.  The confrontation had reportedly been caused by a
non-respect of the Senoufos' cultural rituals (Poro) by Dioula community
representatives.

II. Humanitarian Access

In the West, access to CIB zones and to Chantier Colonel has been often
limited by the bad roads conditions. To alleviate the situation FAO
airlifted 5 tons of seeds to the areas inaccessible by road and
distributed them among the population of the villages of Flandougou,
Oulaipleu, Tiepleu, Golou, Gbapleu and Gbapleu carrefour.

Water and Sanitation

On 22-29 August 2005, Mr. Patrick Achi, Sate Minister of the Economic
Infrastructure, carried out a mission to northern, western and eastern
areas of the country to assess the situation of the local economic
infrastructure. The Minister underlined the alarmingly deteriorated
condition of the infrastructure and stated that a meeting gathering
CICR, UN, Ivory Coast Government and the Forces Nouvelles would be
conducted in Abidjan on 05 September 2005 to discuss the problem of
water supply.

The program for the rehabilitation of 700 pumps (managed by the State
Water and Sanitation Company) initiated by local NGOs in cooperation
with UNICEF and the Department of Water Resources (DHH) has become
operational. Two DHH technicians arrived in Korhogo to conduct
preliminary works with NGOs concerned. On 27 August 2005, CICR and
UNICEF held a meeting regarding the launch of the SODECI water supply
system in Korhogo and urged the local authorities to sensitize the
population on the fact that, during the first period from 05 to 07
September 2005, the water would be unfit for consumption. The meeting
also emphasized the need for the sparring consumption of water and
regular payment of the bills.

Health incl. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

A joint ACF and MSF/ Belgique assessment mission to the North of Bangolo
established various cases of malnutrition of the children under five. It
was emphasized that this situation - that is recurrent during lean
periods- required a coordinated response of the humanitarian partners
concerned.

Education

On 01 September 2005, National Education Minister, Mr. Amani N'Guessan,
heading an important delegation on visit to Korhogo and Bouake,
announced that school examinations process was scheduled for 12-27
September 2005 in zones under control of the Forces Nouvelles.
Meanwhile, in Bandama valley, 8,733 candidates registered for the
secondary school exams (baccalaureat); 23,793 - for BEPC exams and
46,660 for the sixth grade enter exams. Final data for Bouake have not
been available so far.

UNICEF representative, Mr. Youssouf Oomar, leading a large delegation,
conducted a meeting with the humanitarian partners in Bouake on 02
September 2005. The participants discussed the forthcoming start of the
sensitisation campaign aimed at bringing children, and girls in
particular, back to school. The campaign is scheduled for 15 September -
15 October 2005.

UNICEF representative carried out a mission to Middle Cavally where he
interacted with schools' personnel. The campaign in the area will be
conducted in 8 local languages in coordination with women celebrities
and aims to guarantee the gender equality in school enrolment by the
beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. Meanwhile, only 42% of the girls
and 58 % of the boys in the Middle Cavally attend schools.

Protection

On 31 August 2005, ONUCI launched a two-days sensitisation campaign to
raise awareness of the danger of unexploded ordnance. The campaign
conducted jointly by the ONUCI demining experts and French Peacekeeping
Forces focussed on children in order to instil in them safety skills to
avoid incidents with explosives. In the French-Arab school "Sakafa" in
Bouake, pupils were briefed on the danger of various non-exploded
devices including shells, rockets and small calibre ammunition.

Within the framework of the assistance to displaced persons, CICR
provided non-food items assistance to the population returning to Kouaro
(15 km of Toulepleu). In total, 80 coarse canvasses, 20 hoes and 20
shovels were distributed. Natives of the Ziquoubly area also received 10
coarse canvasses, 5 hoes and 5 shovels.

Food Security

Humanitarian partners based in Korhogo carried out an assessment mission
throughout the region from 31 August to 01 September to monitor the
progress of the 2005-2006 agricultural campaign. In total, 31 villages
in 20 sub prefectures in the area of savannas were visited. The team
realized that the agricultural works were hindered by weather conditions
(late and insufficient rains).

III. Humanitarian Co-ordination

Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Head of the Africa II Section/CDR/OCHA New York,
accompanied by Ms. Besida Tonwe, Head of the OCHA Office in the Ivory
Coast, carried out a mission to Guiglo from 29 to 31 August 2005. During
the mission OCHA officials met with IDPs at the Temporary Accommodation
Center (CATD), administrative authorities and humanitarian partners. New
military authorities requested support of the humanitarian community in
order to facilitate the return of IDPs.

IV. Resource Mobilization (28 August 2005 according to FTS)

No new contributions reported by FTS "Financial Tracking Service"

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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