HUMANITARIAN ENVOY NOTES PROGRESS IN COTE D’IVOIRE

HUMANITARIAN ENVOY NOTES PROGRESS IN COTE D’IVOIRE

ABIDJAN, 10 December (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- “It is important that the parties to the conflict in Côte d’Ivoire now move forward and work together in order for the whole country to return to normality”, said Carolyn McAskie, the Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General for the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. 

During her mission, Ms. McAskie met with the President and Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, with the political leader of the Forces Nouvelles in Bouaké, and with representatives of humanitarian groups in the country.  She observed some signs of progress during her visits to the field.  In Bouaké, electricity is still being provided from the south, and armed roadblocks are decreasing and expected to be removed entirely by 15 December.  Ms. McAskie also noted that humanitarian agencies enjoy full access to all areas in the country, which has helped ensure timely aid, and the redeployment of public servants in government-controlled areas in the west.  “The first challenge is to get the donor community to provide funding for humanitarian efforts.  Further, when Côte d’Ivoire returns to peace, the need for long-term support for peace consolidation from the international community will be essential”, she said.

However, Ms. McAskie noted that important humanitarian issues remained, and urged the Government and the Forces Nouvelles to work to resolve these problems.  While some displaced persons are returning to their home areas due to improved security, many also feel pressured by their overstretched host communities to return.  Another important concern was the involvement of child soldiers in the conflict.

One of the purposes of Ms. McAskie’s mission was to raise funds for this year’s Consolidated Appeal for Côte d’Ivoire, which seeks some $59 million.  Last year, humanitarian agencies received only 39 per cent of the funding they required to carry out programmes under the Appeal.

For further information, please contact:  Frøydis Dybdahl Archer, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Côte d'Ivoire, tel.: +225 22405175/76; mobile: + 225 05933945; e-mail: froydis@ocha.ci; Stephanie Bunker, OCHA New York, tel.: 917 367 5126, mobile: 917 892 1679; or Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel.: 41 22 917 2653, mobile: 41(0) 79 472 4570.

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