EMBARGOED TO THE MEDIA UNTIL TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2003, 1100 HRS NEW YORK TIME

Côte D'Ivoire Plus Three

CONSOLIDATED APPEAL

SUMMARY

Impact of crisis

The people of Côte d’Ivoire, including those who fled to Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, continue to live with serious humanitarian needs, one year after an attempted coup split Côte d’Ivoire in two and brought extensive instability to the country.

The humanitarian consequences of this crisis continue to be felt, despite significant progress towards peace in Côte d'Ivoire.

Formal education for children and the health system have effectively collapsed in the west and the north of the country due to the departure of the civil service administration, acts of violence and insecurity.

Curable diseases have once again started to kill, and malnutrition is affecting vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.

In the south, thousands of displaced children cannot attend school while health services are overburdened. The crisis has seriously disrupted agriculture and trade, increasing general poverty. Host families have struggled to support IDPs.

Some vulnerable population groups, in particular IDPs and refugees, are still at risk from widespread religious and ethnic-based tensions.

The perceived involvement of refugees from neighbouring countries in the recent conflict has exposed them to threats and attacks. Refugees are increasingly afraid to appear in public.

Côte d'Ivoire is at a critical juncture: progress has been made towards peace. But simmering political, military and communal tensions, if unchecked, could easily push the country back into a spiral of violence and war.

Helping recovery

In this situation, humanitarian assistance and protection activities can play an important role in helping national reconciliation, laying foundations for recovery of livelihoods and a return to stability.

The 2004 CAP aims to promote the gradual stabilization of the country, while addressing the life-saving needs of vulnerable populations.

The common humanitarian strategy adopts a two-pronged approach:

• To continue efforts to respond to critical needs
• To carry out medium and long term activities to help stabilize conditions and recover livelihoods

To promote the effective protection of civilians in the aftermath of the conflict and to curb rising ethnic and religious tensions, priority focus will be to develop a culture of peace and address wider human rights issues.

Finally, agencies will work to reinforce the capacity of national and local authorities to respond to the crisis, and to re-establish local administration and social services throughout the country.

Request

Humanitarian and development agencies are appealing for 59,812,624 to respond to the needs of over one million people affected by the war in Côte d’Ivoire.

Funding Requirements in 2004
(US$)