Increased support needed for Côte d'Ivoire

(New York, 19 February 2004): Failure to increase international support to Côte d'Ivoire could result in the destabilisation of neighbouring countries. This was the conclusion of a recent report from Côte d'Ivoire issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Abidjan.
The disarmament process has commenced and has received international support in neighbouring Liberia and has been completed in Sierra Leone. To consolidate the progress made in these countries, Côte d'Ivoire must receive international support and embark on the same process. If not, Côte d'Ivoire could jeopardise its neighbours' fragile recovery.

In the past Côte d'Ivoire provided economic opportunities to many immigrants in the sub-region. It is estimated at least 25% of the population in Côte d'Ivoire are immigrants or descendents of immigrants from neighbouring countries. In the 1990's, Côte d'Ivoire also provided asylum to hundreds of thousands of Liberian refugees. Moreover, landlocked neighbours are heavily dependent on Abidjan port, the second biggest harbour in West Africa. Before the current crisis, more than 70% of the external trade of Mali and about 80% of that of Burkina Faso passed through it.

The conflict in Côte d'Ivoire pushed hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes and produced about 52,000 Ivorian refugees registered by UNHCR and the movement of 342,000 Burkinabe and 82,000 Malians fleeing Côte d'Ivoire. An estimated half a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living with host families. The collapse of basic social services--education, health, water and sanitation--has further weakened human security and increased poverty and instability, while the HIV pandemic is reaching an alarming rate, especially among young women. The humanitarian needs of populations affected by the crisis, particularly IDPs, are urgent.

The inter-agency consolidated appeal requires US$ 69 million in 2004 to meet these humanitarian needs and support the return of IDPs.

Even though the belligerents in Côte d'Ivoire have officially declared the end of the war, inter- and intra-community tensions and conflicts remain, and may be exacerbated with the return of IDPs to their areas of origin. Without adequate resources for disarmament, demobilisation, and reconciliation, the situation could deteriorate further.

In the past Côte d'Ivoire has been an example of regional stability. Today, Côte d'Ivoire needs the international community to mobilise resources, respond to its urgent needs, support the peace process, and help rebuild society.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, 917 367 5126, mobile 917 892 1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, 41 22 917 2653, mobile 41(0) 79 472 4570.