This bulletin is being issued for information only and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is finalizing plans to support National Societies in the region to prepare for and respond to population movement. The IFRC will accept direct assistance to provide support to the affected population.
The political stalemate in the West African nation of Côte d'Ivoire since the re-run of the presidential election on 28 November 2010 is posing humanitarian concerns not only in Côte d'Ivoire but in the region as well. The country's Independent Electoral Commission had declared the opposition candidate Alassane Ouatarra the winner of the run-off on 2 December 2010 but the result was overturned by the country's Constitutional Council. It announced the incumbent President Gbagbo as the winner although the international community and the UN had recognized the victory of the opposition candidate. The two candidates took oaths of office in different locations on 4 December 2010 and have formed parallel governments in Côte d'Ivoire. There have been protests in the country both before and after the presidential election run-off.
The Situation
The political stalemate has affected movement of people and goods within the country, leading to increase in cost of living as prices of food ingredients have soared. The fear of violence has also led to the movement of some people into neighbouring Liberia and Guinea Conakry. An estimated 5,000 people had entered Liberia with new arrivals reported in villages along the border on the basis of around 150 people per day. Meanwhile in Guinea, the number of newly registered Ivorian refugees in the southeast of the country is increasing from day to day reaching 338 people as of 18 December. As a political solution is being sought to the stalemate, there is the fear of increased population movement from Côte d'Ivoire into Guinea, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali to some extent in the coming days and this may lead to humanitarian needs in these countries.