Action Against Hunger deploys additional emergency resources to Ivory Coast

For families fleeing violence, malnutrition and poor sanitary conditions are life-threatening

6 April 2011

As the Ivory Coast plunges into a state of emergency, international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger | ACF International is transporting 24 tons of resources to the Western city of Man to reinforce its emergency response.

A flight will take off from France tonight, carrying 12 tons of materials. The crew will transport pumps, water purification kits, water storage kits, high energy nutritional foods as well as radios and satellite phones. A further 12 tons of resources will be flown out on Friday.

The aircraft will also carry an additional nutrition and logistical emergency response team to reinforce Action Against Hunger’s team of experts who are already on the ground as the humanitarian organisation expands emergency efforts in Duékoué, Danane and Man.

With thousands of displaced people gathering in crowded spaces, without shelter or food, Action Against Hunger fears that living conditions could deteriorate rapidly and create a public health disaster for thousands of displaced, vulnerable people. In response, Action Against Hunger is already providing water filters to 2,000 families as well as addressing the sanitation situation.

Another crisis posed is the risk of food shortages. To address this threat, nine tons of therapeutic foods and high energy biscuits will be distributed to displaced families.