"Humanitarian agencies urge Ivorian authorities to assume their responsibilities"

Abidjan, 26 August 2003 - The western region of Côte d'Ivoire has been particularly affected by the armed conflict and inter-community clashes that have torn apart the social fabric and called into question the peaceful atmosphere that has existed for years between the local, ethnic and foreign communities here.
During this moment, in which confidence building and reconciliation constitute prerequisites for a return of displaced populations to their places of habitual residence, humanitarian agencies are issuing an alert aimed at halting the expulsions currently taking place in the western region of the country, which are likely to revive inter-ethnic and community tensions.

Indeed, for several weeks now, humanitarian agencies and the different military forces in place in the west have observed widespread departure, and in some cases flight, of populations from their camps, villages and usual places of residence.

Thousands of people, mostly nationals of West African countries and Ivorians native to other areas of the country, have been and continue to be expelled from villages and rural areas around the towns of Toulépleu, Zouan Hounien, Guiglo and Duékoué. During their departure, they are also subject to threats and aggression by small groups of youth who remain unidentified.

The displacement of these populations is the result of demands for their departure and various ultimatums handed down by village authorities and traditional chiefs in some local communities.

The humanitarian agencies note that the protection of civilian populations living in Côte d'Ivoire, irrespective of their origin, is a right guaranteed by the Ivorian State, signatory to several international conventions on human rights and humanitarian law, which include principles guiding the protection of populations displaced within its borders.

Hence, it is the Ivorian State that is, in the first instance, responsible for protecting its own citizens as well as foreign nationals living in Côte d'Ivoire, and in particular for taking action to avoid their unlawful displacement. Moreover, perpetrators of violent acts or incitement of violence against these populations are responsible for their actions before national and international laws.

The humanitarian agencies also note that these expulsions aggravate the already critical humanitarian situation in the West, because they hamper, or even prevent, the adequate distribution of food aid, the distribution of agricultural tools and seeds to the rural populations, and also result in the saturation of transit centres and host communities in urban areas receiving thousands of newly displaced people.

The town of Guiglo, which has already received 6000 displaced people, continues to receive several hundred new arrivals each day. This unforeseen situation is seriously disrupting the assistance programmes and supply pipelines of humanitarian agencies, which must immediately respond to the pressing needs of food and non-food items (shelters, blankets, mats, buckets, etc), as well as develop and maintain reception sites.

In the interest of preventing further conflict, and with the objective of collecting reliable information, the OCHA Office in Côte d'Ivoire organized, from 20 to 25 August 2003, a joint mission to the western towns and villages of Toulépleu, Guiglo and Duékoué with WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, and the Ivorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of MINUCI and the western Command Post of the Tripartite Forces (FANCI/New Forces, Operation Licorne, MICECI).

The main objective of this emergency mission was to meet with actors in the field concerned by the expulsions, and identify with them the nature of the problems as well as the points and conditions for creating a consensus in favour of mediation and dialogue.

As the situation is still tense, the UN humanitarian agencies and their partners urge the Government to take all appropriate measures to ensure the promotion of the rule of law, in accordance with the aspirations of the authorities, and the protection of the civilian populations in the western region.

Given the complexity of the situation, the humanitarian agencies express the hope that all possible peace negotiations and mediations will be conducted with and among the different parties in order to calm the people and halt these expulsions, which are in total contradiction to the aid and assistance principles of humanitarian organizations.

For further information please contact:

Ms. Besida Tonwe, Head of Office, OCHA Côte d'Ivoire +225-2240-5175
Mr. Pierre Marie N'Goré, Communication and Advocacy Officer +225-2240-5172 (en français)
Mr. Jeff Brez, Information Officer, OCHA Côte d'Ivoire +225-2240-5174