Abiba has enough formula for just one more day. She has been trying to reach a paediatrician by phone for advice, to no avail. Perhaps sugar-water β but we've got no sugar. In the past several days β after forces opposed to Laurent Gbagbo entered Abidjan β residents have been holed up in their homes as buildings shook with weapons fire and armed men looted shops and offices throughout the city. The UN estimates that some one million people have been displaced by violence in Abidjan in recent weeks.
Anthony Lake, UNICEF executive director, said in a 4 April statement aid agencies "urgently" need to reach people at risk β especially unaccompanied children, and women who are heads of households. Abidjan residents IRIN contacted said they were rationing the small amount of food they have.
Every one of them said if people are not able to access food in the next couple of days they will be in grave danger. From time to time someone will show up in a neighbourhood selling food β dried okra, leaves for sauce, canned goods.
In some areas piped water is cut all or part of the time, residents said. Hundreds of people have been seen in recent days collecting water from the lagoon, which is heavily polluted. UNICEF says among the greatest challenges to providing urgently needed aid is securing humanitarian access. Even if major combat ends between pro-Ouattara and pro-Gbagbo forces, insecurity reigns in Abidjan, with continued looting and the threat of reprisal attacks among heavily armed militants on both sides.
Ouattara's top priority must be to restore law and order in Abidjan, disarming people on both sides, said Rinaldo Depagne, senior West Africa analyst with International Crisis Group. Ouattara will have to use the police, gendarmes, the UN and the French to re-establish peace. Ask about this document Go to chat page.
