UN says situation in Côte d'Ivoire remains unpredictable, refugee supplies run short

The situation in Côte d'Ivoire is calm but remains unpredictable almost three weeks after renewed violence erupted when Government forces violated a nearly two-year-old ceasefire agreement with an attack on rebels in the north, the United Nation mission in the West African country reported today.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative Albert Tévoédjrè met with Prime Minister Seydou Diarra today who returned from Pretoria from talks with South Africa President Thabo Mbeki. Mr. Mbeki also met with Guillaume Soro, Secretary General of the rebel Forces Nouvelles as part of the efforts to resolve the crisis.

The new Ivorian Joint Chief of Staff, Philippe Mangou, met with UN military personnel over the weekend and reiterated the Government's pledge to restore confidence by providing security and protection for all communities after a wave of anti-French violence and ethnic clashes led to the flight of thousands of refugees and foreigners.

The latest crisis began 4 November when Government forces bombed rebel positions in the UN-patrolled Zone of Confidence (ZOC) separating the combatants. Two days later Government forces bombed French peacekeepers there, killing nine, and French troops destroyed the Government's air force in retaliation, leading to widespread rioting, looting and harassment of foreigners.

More than 10,000 Ivorians, mostly women and children, fled into neighbouring Liberia, itself struggling to recover after 14 years of vicious civil war, and thousands of foreigners were air-lifted out of Abidjan, the country's largest city.

Community outreach activities by UN civilian police have now resumed, with teams fanning out into the villages countrywide to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), set up in April to monitor the ceasefire and help implement peace accords between the Government and rebels signed in January 2003, also reported that economic activities were brisker in Yamoussoukro, the capital, due to the relative calm.

Meanwhile in Liberia, host families are accommodating up to nine or 10 refugees from Côte d'Ivoire in each house, and food is now in very short supply, the UN refugee agency said. Even before the influx of refugees, there was little available for the local population in the war-torn country.

To remedy the situation, UN agencies and the Liberian Government have agreed that food distribution will now target the population of the host community as well as the new arrivals, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. Helicopters of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) are flying over the area to airlift consignments of emergency relief along the border.