UN Secretary-General's Humanitarian Envoy visiting northern Côte d'Ivoire

Abidjan, 22 January 2003 - Ms. Carolyn McAskie, Humanitarian Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, departed Abidjan yesterday on a WFP flight to visit rebel-held areas in the north and west of the country. Upon arrival in Yamoussoukro, she declared that she "will discuss the question of humanitarian access with the rebel groups". She said she was "encouraged to see that the cease-fire agreement signed in Lomé on 13 June included a paragraph on humanitarian access, as it demonstrates that it is a concern of the parties in conflict". She added that "the limits of the accord on humanitarian access still needed to be tested". Ms. McAskie visited Bouaké yesterday where she described discussions with the main rebel movement MPCI as "encouraging", because they would agree to sign a protocol allowing unimpeded humanitarian access. She is visiting today the western areas affected by the conflict, including the Nicla refugee camp, which currently provides shelter for some 7,000 Liberian refugees. She is scheduled to meet with President Laurent Gbagbo upon her return to Abidjan this evening.
OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Rue J47 Villa 2247 Ilôt 197 Cocody II Plateaux, 12ème Arrondissement 01 BP 1747 Abidjan
Tel : (225) 22 40 44 40 ; 22 40 44 47 Fax : 07 01 36 64 Antenne Yamoussoukro 07 48 85 72

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Jeff Brez
Information Officer
OCHA RSOWA
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