Political/Security Developments
Monday 20 October is DAY 28 of the Forces
Nouvelles boycott of the government of national reconciliation and the
national process of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reinsertion (DDR).
Groups of youth have destroyed opposition national dailies and threatened distributors and vendors in the city of San Pedro and the Abidjan quarter of Yopougon during the reporting period. The National Commission for the Press (CNP) has issued a statement condemning these actions and supporting freedom of the press.
A "young patriots" demonstration planned for 18 October in the central town of Tiebissou, situated in the "confidence zone" some 60 km south of Forces Nouvelles-controlled territory, and a "pro-Linas Marcoussis" march for Abidjan, were banned by the Government, which reportedly agreed at a 16 October Cabinet meeting to halt civil demonstrations for a period of three months.
Radio France International (RFI) reported on Monday 20 October that several opposition party (RDR) militants were abducted on Friday evening in Abidjan, and that their whereabouts are unknown.
President Gbagbo visited Accra Sunday 19 October to hold talks with Ghanian president and ECOWAS presidency holder John Kuofor.
Humanitarian Highlights
Moderate and severe malnutrition among children in the west perseveres, and malnutrition in the southwest has surfaced. NGOs are running therapeutic feeding centres in both Man and Guiglo. While the malnutrition in the west is due to a combination of illness and lack of access to food, it is suspected that the cases in the southwest are due principally to illness among children, deriving from a lack of adequate health services. The political standoff in the process of national reconciliation and DDR is putting at high risk the formal start of the school year, scheduled for 5 January, for some 700,000 students in the Forces Nouvelles-held north. During a 15 - 18 October mission to the West, UNICEF was informed by community based organisations that due to the conflict-damaged economy, some youth are turning to banditry, and juvenile prostitution among girls is rising.
UNICEF's RESPONSE
Back to School/Education
On Monday 20 October the Ministry of Education and UNICEF held an official handover ceremony of educational and recreational materials, teaching aids, sanitary/hygiene supplies and first aid kits in support of back to school in the south (6 October) and a portion of the west (Guiglo, Duekoue, Bangolo - 3 November). The materials provided by UNICEF will benefit some 50,000 vulnerable primary school children and 1,000 of their teachers in the regions of Abidjan, San Pedro, Yamoussoukro, Dimbokro and Guiglo. The ceremony was held at the SOGICI 10 primary school in the Yopougon quarter of Abidjan. Hundreds of children participated in the ceremony, as did national, local and traditional authorities, members of the diplomatic community, UN partners and the press. The Minister of Education, Mr. Amani N'Guessan, thanked UNICEF for its unflagging support to children throughout the crisis, and at the end of his speech echoed UNICEF Cote d'Ivoire's new slogan: "A victory for children is a victory for Cote d'Ivoire". UNICEF Resident Representative Georgette Aithnard stressed to those assembled that all children throughout the country have a basic right to education, and that education and recreational activities protect them from the negative psychological and social effects that can be caused by the conflict, including the involvement of children in armed activities and increased risk of delinquency. In the framework of back to school preparations and activities, UNICEF is also advocating strongly both with the relevant national and local authorities as well as with communities and parents at the grassroots level, that it is their responsibility to ensure that all girls attend school.
Health & Nutrition
The UNICEF sub-office in Bouake continues to monitor the health situation of children and women in the centre-north of the country, evaluating the state of health structures and meeting with health staff that are present. In particular, UNICEF is providing assistance to children's health care, pregnancy and childbirth. Supplies including birthing tables, midwife kits, episiotomy kits, caesarian kits, suction apparatuses and other related medical supplies, have recently been provided to Bouake Hospital, and to health clinics in the villages of Ayaou-Sokpa (Kossou Lake peninsula), and Botro (Bouake-west) in the framework of continuing support.
UNICEF undertook a review mission to its antenna offices in Man and Guiglo from 15 - 18 October and met with NGO partner ACF to review existing programmes aimed at alleviating and treating malnutrition, and identify strategies to effectively address the current nutritional needs of children.
Microplanning for the upcoming measles campaign has begun: two teams have departed Abidjan for the targeted areas in the government controlled and Forces Nouvelles-controlled zones, respectively. All vaccinations and Vitamin A supplements are in stock in Abidjan, and will be pre-positioned as necessary in the new UNICEF warehouse in Yamoussoukro.
Water and Sanitation
In the framework of a project to promote hygiene and health in school environments, some 5,700 posters, 14,000 pamphlets and 14,000 stickers on themes of hygiene, teen pregnancy in school, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS were provided to the Extra-Curricular and Cooperation Activity Department (DESAC), and the National University Programme of School Health (PNSSU). UNICEF activities in this sector fully support article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which specifies that children have a right to, "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health".
UNICEF led an inter-agency mission to the southwestern coastal town of Tabou, to study alternative solutions for the provision of safe drinking water. The 8 - 15 September multi-sector mission produced reports on: water resources; physico-chemical and bacteriological situation; epidemiological situation; and the geophysical situation. The final report indicates that the risk of epidemics due to the water supply situation is great, due to the proximity of water points and wells to latrines, and recommends sensibilisation campaigns for the population, de-contamination of wells, the provision of infrastructure support to repair existing structures and build new wells.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Jeff Brez, Communication Officer,
UNICEF Côte d'Ivoire
Direct telephone: +225-2020-8176 / cell: 05-853118 / e-mail: jabrez@unicef.org