Cote d’Ivoire - IOM Cote d’Ivoire has led a week-long inter-agency assessment mission to the Ivorian-Liberian border to identify the challenges faced by border communities from local violence and a lack of  border management.

The assessment was carried out from 9 November to 13 November in the Ivorian border towns of Touleplou, Danane, Tai and Tabou by representatives of the Ivorian government, IOM, UNHCR, UNDP and UNOCI.

It examined social cohesion in border communities, the main sources of cross-border conflict, and how to improve coping mechanisms for communities affected by the closure of the border in early 2014 due to the regional Ebola crisis.

During the mission, participants met with local authorities, community members, elderly people, youth and women to understand community needs and the impacts of the border closure, the Ebola crisis and land disputes on the Ivorian side, which cause periodic outbreaks of violence. Local people complained of a lack of infrastructure and a lack of intercommunal social cohesion.

The assessment mission is the first step towards obtaining funds from the UN Peacebuilding Fund for an inter-agency project to improve peaceful coexistence in border areas. The project will be implemented in close cooperation with national and local government authorities, civil society and local communities.

“There are many challenges that need to be addressed in these communities, which are in crisis, despite the good work of NGOs in the area. The two governments, IOM and our UN partners need to urgently address these challenges,” said IOM Cote d’Ivoire project manager Laurent Guittey.

For further information please contact Anita Shahzada Anwer Kassem, IOM Cote d’Ivoire, Tel: +225 79931991, Email: akassem@iom.int