OCHA Situation Report No. 21
Cote d'Ivoire
18 - 25 September 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. Political and Security Situation

On 22 September 2005, President Laurent Gbagbo appointed by decree the
members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) that was provided
for by the Pretoria agreements. IEC comprises the representatives of the
Head of State Office, the Government, the National Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and of the opposition parties that signed
the Marcoussis agreements.

Yao Kouassi Pizon, spokesman of the political parties close to the
President, declared that a national transition/negotiation process would
only increase the suffering of the population. He proposed to let the
present national reconciliation Government in power after the 30th of
October and to postpone for a 3-6 month period the presidential
elections. Meanwhile, at a press conference held on 23 September 2005 in
Abidjan, Alphonse Djedje Mady, Secretary General of the Democratic Party
of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), declared that the transition period after 30
October 2005 should last about 14 months. Mr. Mady added that, according
to PDCI, the transitional period should be managed neither by President
Laurent Gbagbo nor by a candidate to the next presidential election or
by a UN administration.

OCHA-Guiglo was informed about three cases of murder in camps located on
the Guiglo/Blolequin axis. According to humanitarian partners, banditry
and robbery incidents, allegedly committed by militia groups, increased
in Guiglo. UN Police reports an inflow of young people into the city of
Duekoue and plans to investigate this matter. Meanwhile, Duekoue remains
under the curfew from 09:00 p.m. to 06:00 a.m.

OCHA-Man reported that two corpses of persons disappeared last February
were found in the undergrowth in a village of Dieouzon. According to the
UN Police in Bangolo, the parents of the victims took legal actions and
one of the suspected persons killed himself.

II. Humanitarian situation

Population Movement:

According to OCHA-Guiglo field office, 693 internally displaced persons
(IDP) - out of estimated 2142 at the start of the year - returned to
Fengolo as of 23 September 2005. Improved security and the start by
ONUCI of the construction works concerning the rehabilitation of houses
have contributed to promote the returns. However, about 2700 IDPs,
mainly from Toizeon, Blodi, Irozon and Fengolo, still remain at the
Catholic Mission in Duekoue. OCHA-Guiglo also reported that 1223
families returned to Kouaro (on the axis Toulepleu-Binhoue). People fled
the village 3 years ago at the outbreak of the crisis. Kouaro villagers
still face problems related to the lack of potable water and school
facilities.

Water and Sanitation

NGO Solidarite received spare parts for the repairing of 29 water pumps
in Guiglo and works are expected to begin shortly. Meanwhile, NGO
Solidarite carried out bacteriological analysis tests of water samples
at 60 wells in 17 villages in the region of Moyen Cavally.

The first meeting of the National Emergency Committee on water problems
chaired by the Minister of Economic Infrastructure, Mr. Achi, was held
on 22 September 2005. The Minister informed participants about the
assessment of water supply facilities made as a result of his mission to
19 villages and towns in Forces Nouvelles (FN) controlled areas. The
mission determined there was a need of repairing 2033 water pumps and of
installing 2570 new additional pumps. The total estimate cost is about
20 billions F CFA; the estimate cost for rehabilitating water works in
urban areas is 13,603 billions F CFA.

Health, incl. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS

MSF-France reported lack of blood at the blood bank of the Bouake
Hospital. The NGO called on humanitarian partners to sensitize the
population to donate blood.

In Guiglo, last week MSF-France treated 60 children at the Nutrition and
Therapeutics Center.

According to the International NGO Service Jesuite aux Refugies (SJR),
Bouake Information and Screening Centre recorded 218 persons undergoing
antiretroviral treatment. 80 % of the patients are women. SJR conducts a
study on the age-bracket of the patients, which will be shortly made
public.

Following the report of a yellow fever case in Kalamon on 07 September
2005, UNICEF and WHO carry on yellow fever vaccinations in the Doropo
sub-prefecture (mainly in Bouna). In total, 27 000 persons are planned
to be vaccinated. The Public Health Minister accompanied by the
representatives of UNICEF and WHO conducted a mission to Bouna on 23
September 2005.

UNICEF identified three national NGOs, CARITAS BDPH (Bureau Diocesaine
de la Promotion Humaine), International Friendship Service and
Organization for the Development of Women Activities, to conduct
nutritional surveillance activities in the villages of the region of 18
Montagnes through the Community Health Workers trained last week. The
choice was determined by the representativeness of the NGOs and the
scope of their activities in the region.

Education

In a letter addressed to the Minister of National Education, Mr. Amani
N'Guessan, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye,
confirmed the commitment of ONUCI to ensure the transport, distribution
and security of the examination papers for the 72 examination centres
identified by the Ministry. The Humanitarian Coordinator underlined that
UN Impartial Forces were ready to provide reinforced patrols and rapid
response teams. Moreover, teams of volunteers at the examination centers
could be made available and an alert unit could be established.

Following the postponement of the exams, 76 schoolchildren from Man,
Korhogo and Odienne and 1 teacher are blocked in Bouake, as the city is
the only center for the secondary school examinations (G 2 series) in
the area. Schoolchildren face accommodation and food problems. PAM plans
to provide food assistance to alleviate the situation.

UNICEF finalized the contract regarding the rehabilitation works of the
school in Fengolo. Meanwhile IDPs children returned to Kouaro (Toulepleu
District) do not have access to school.

The French Peace Keeping Force Unit based in Man provided some school
supplies to the school in the Libreville city district.

Protection

A Mission of the Protection Network Group comprising Peter Neussl
(OCHA), Yves Boukpessi (ONUCI) and Claudia McGoldrick (Norwegian Refugee
Council) visited Guiglo, Duekoue, Man, Fengolo and Yamoussoukro. The
team conducted meetings with members of the local protection sector
group in order to activate the network on the ground.

IRC-Man reported that gender-based violence in the region deserves
particular attention and a concerted approach of the humanitarian
partners in order to set up appropriate response mechanisms through the
protection network which is presently being set up.

Food Security

WFP Representative in Cote d'Ivoire fielded a mission to Man on 22
September 2005. During the mission, he visited a farm run by Internally
Displaced Persons assisted by WFP through the provision of rice seeds
and tools.

Fighting poverty

A joint delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO) and the Ministry of Industry and of Development of
the Private Sector conducted a mission to Odienne on 22 September 2005.
The mission was carried out within the framework of the Emergency
Programme for the Support to the Productive Industries in Cote d'Ivoire.
With a view to promote income generation activities and job creation
opportunities for underprivileged populations, especially women and
young businessmen, the delegation assessed the economic potential
represented by the processing of the Anacarde walnut.

III. Communication

OCHA-CI in cooperation with ONUCI FM Radio and the NGO "Search for
Common Ground" has been broadcasting the weekly radio programme "Main
dans la main" since 04 September 2005. The program is focused on two
main issues: Humanitarian Action and Social Cohesion. The program is
broadcasted on Radio ONUCI FM every Saturday, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
and re-broadcasted every Wednesday, from 07:30 to 08:00 p.m. It is also
broadcasted on community partner radios every Wednesday, between 10:00
and 12:00 a.m. and re-broadcasted during the week before Saturday.

IV. Mobilization of Resources (18 September 2005)

No new contributions have been reported by FTS "Financial Tracking
Service".

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