Côte d'Ivoire: Better protect, better assist

Abidjan, 16 May 2003 - After eight months of crisis, the current process of reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire is leading to conditions that will allow safe access to vulnerable populations throughout the entire country. In order to better respond to the many needs of war-affected populations, UNICEF and OCHA organised a seminar the 14th and 15th of May for humanitarian and military actors present on the ground, with the aim of reinforcing and better coordinating the protection of vulnerable persons, notably IDPs, refugees, minorities, women and children.
Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Clotilde Ohouchi, Minister of Solidarity, Social Security and the Disabled, pointed out the importance of ". . .working together, in a spirit of solidarity, expertise and complementarity to effectively respond to the needs of populations in distress while fulfilling our respective mandates." This vision was shared fully by the acting Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cote d'Ivoire, Moustapha Kamara, "Now, at the dawn of national reconciliation, it is fundamental that we move forward in a coordinated manner towards a common approach to the humanitarian response, and with a clear understanding of our respective roles."

The Ministries of Solidarity, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Education, Territorial Administration and the Fight against AIDS, UN agencies, international and national NGOs involved in the humanitarian effort, as well as the forces charged with securing the national territory, the FANCI (Ivorian military), French Operation Unicorn forces, and ECOMICI, discussed the fundamental rights of vulnerable persons in situations of conflict, clarified their roles and responsibilities with regard to humanitarian assistance, and identified in a consensual manner ways to ensure the complementarity of their efforts in Cote d'Ivoire.

On the basis of the consensus reached during the seminar, humanitarian actors will soon finalise a Code of Conduct for all humanitarian workers in Cote d'Ivoire and will revise their strategies for assistance to and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly internally displaced populations (IDPs).

This seminar was also an occasion for the humanitarian community to reaffirm its commitment to supporting the process of national reconciliation, which will proceed with the restoration of the inherent rights of all displaced and vulnerable populations.

For further information, contact:

Patricia Dailly Ajavon, UNICEF, tel 20 20 81 53, cell:05 97 40 77
Jeff Brez, OCHA,, tel 22 40 51 74, cell: 07 69 21 24