Situation deteriorating in Côte d'Ivoire

(United Nations, New York: 13 December): Kenzo Oshima, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, issued a statement today in which he expressed his concern over increasing violence against civilians in Cote d' Ivoire.
Fighting in Danane, Touba, Man, and Toulepleu has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian aid to be delivered to those locations along the western border with Liberia and Guinea, an area hosting over 45,000 Liberian refugees, as well as nearby towns and villages, where there are internally displaced persons who had previously fled fighting in the area. Reports from UN and NGO humanitarian personnel, especially the news of mass graves near Vavoua and Bouake, indicate that flagrant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have occurred. Humanitarian efforts have been further hindered by deprivation of equipment, including the destruction of a UNHCR ferry used to transport refugees between Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia, and the confiscation of some 20 UNICEF vehicles.

Fighting erupted in Cote d'Ivoire on 19 September 2002. The emergence of two new rebel groups in the western part of the country and the renewed outbreak of fighting in late November are causing the humanitarian situation to deteriorate further. Since the beginning of the crisis, escalating clashes between Government and rebel forces have driven some 100,000 people across borders and have caused approximately half of a million people to become internally displaced, which is placing a strain on host families. In addition, the worsening humanitarian conditions in Cote d'Ivoire have had adverse economic effects for populations throughout the region, already among the world's poorest. Nationals of about 11 West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Benin, Niger, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal and Mauritania, make up the bulk of the over four million foreigners in Cote d'Ivoire.

In his statement, the Emergency Relief Coordinator reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligation to ensure that civilians in armed conflict are protected. He called on them to work with the humanitarian community to ensure that aid workers are able to deliver assistance to all people in need safely and without impediment. The statement says that those responsible for blatant violations of international humanitarian and criminal law must be held accountable.

For further information, please contact:

Mrs. Besida Tonwe, Head of Office, OCHA-RSOWA
Office: 225 22 40 51 70
Cell: 225 07 01 36 63
E-mail: tonwe@un.org; or besida@ocha.ci

Ms. Rosa Malango, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA-RSOWA
Office: 225 22 40 51 71
Cell: 225 07 01 3664