Côte d’Ivoire: ADRA Assisting Families Displaced by Post-Election Violence
SILVER SPRING, Md. – The recent post-election violence in the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire, which has left more than 250 dead and forced thousands to flee their homes to escape the political crisis and inter-ethnic clashes, has prompted the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to begin delivering food aid to hundreds of displaced families.
Working in coordination with local partners, ADRA will distribute food rations to newly displaced persons in the western town of Duékoué, an area where fighting erupted recently after the shooting death of a local businesswoman. This incident triggered fatal inter-ethnic clashes that resulted in the deaths of 34 people, the looting and burning of more than 400 houses and shops, and the significant increase of displaced persons.
ADRA’s operation will target 250 families directly affected by the recent crisis. Each household will receive a 14-day food ration for five people that contains a combination of rice, beans, vegetable oil, and corn soymilk. ADRA has assembled the rations taking the basic nutritional requirements into account, ensuring each beneficiary will receive the required caloric intake. Priority is being given to pregnant and lactating women, chronically ill residents, the elderly, and disabled persons. According to local sources, more than two-thirds of the 9,500 people currently displaced in that area are women, children and elderly people.
In late November 2010, Côte d’Ivoire began experiencing an escalation of political unrest following a highly disputed presidential election in which the two main candidates claimed victory. As a result, there has been an increase in attacks of political supporters and a rise in human rights violations.
