Action Against Hunger Scales up Programmes to Help Communities Rebuild their Lives

As political unrest in the Ivory Coast begins to calm, the humanitarian crisis is far from over. International humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger | ACF International continues to scale up its programmes to help rebuild communities’ livelihoods over the next months.

Needs are immense in Abidjan

The food security and hygiene situation in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan continues to be worrying. As Abidjan becomes more secure, Action Against Hunger is about to resume its activities to contain the cholera outbreak and re-launch its water and sanitation programmes. The humanitarian organisation will distribute 34,000 cholera kits including water treatment tablets and soap in partnership with the Ivorian Red Cross.

Emergency supplies including food rations will also be delivered to families who are unable to access food and water.

Ivory Coast / Liberia Border
The situation near the Liberian border is also extremely fragile. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes due to the fighting and have been taken in by villagers or have settled in makeshift camps. Host families have shared their homes and food for weeks and have been traumatised by the recent atrocities.

Sylvie was one of those who fled the violence of Abidjan, along with ten members of her family, after being trapped in the conflict without access to food or water. It took more than a week to reach the West of the country, as they regularly found themselves stuck on the road due to fighting. 

"We have nothing with us; we had to flee very quickly, then we travelled by foot and on crammed cattle trucks. In this small village, more than 60 families came from across the country seeking refuge from the violence of the cities. There is very limited water and food and we are sharing what little is available,” Sylvie explains.

Action Against Hunger has implemented water and sanitation programmes and is distributing high energy biscuits in the makeshift camps to help the most vulnerable, including children under three years old.

In Mahapleu, 430 households have received water filtration kits.  Action Against Hunger hopes to reach 2,000 households in the coming days. In Duekoue, access to drinking water supplies are being restored by installing water bladders and chlorinating water sources. The installation of latrines in the overcrowded camps will help to improve hygiene and limit the spread of waterbourne diseases.

Eloi, who recently arrived in Duékoué after spending 11 days in the bush to escape the fighting, said:

"The coming years will be very difficult. We have lost our harvest and seeds for the next season. The economic crisis will take time to unwind."

Action Against Hunger is preparing for a long term presence in the Ivory Coast to help communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods. 

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