Côte d’Ivoire – One year on: Evicted Gesco Rivière farmers must be compensated for devastating loss of livelihoods
On the first anniversary of the demolition, Amnesty said that the Iworia authorities must urgently make up for 133 farmers, their employees and families, whose livelihoods were forced to take place in Gisco Revere, Abidyan ( The ruins of Gesco Rivière were destroyed.
February 21, 2024 As a series of forced evictions in the Abidjan community, part of the farm and fish ponds of the community Agriculture – Paster eburny Association Demolition without prior consultation or notice. The association’s president Guillaume Ballé Zilé said farmers have settled in the Gesco Rivière site, a 4.6-hectare area that was awarded by a state-owned company in 2011 to establish an agricultural waste area.
One year after the demolition, despite being forced to deported by shutdowns in November 2024 and authorities have repeatedly promised to make up and rebuild affected people, none of the farmers received compensation for their losses, an estimated FCFA of about 650 million, or 1. According to the president of the Agriculture-Past Eberney Association, million euros.
“While we welcome the commitment of the authorities to suspend the expulsion and demolition and implement compensation measures in Abidjan, the Gesco Rivière farmers have so far not benefited from any scheme. All those affected by forced expulsions that have not yet been compensated must have little effect on the impact of a forced expulsion that has not yet been compensated. Benefit without delay.
“Since February 2024, there has been no response from government agencies we have reported on, especially the Ministry of Animal Production and Fisheries Resources, the Yopougon City Hall or the Abidjan Autonomous Region,” Guillaume Ballé Zilé said.
More than 300 families are in poverty
In addition to the 133 farmers and their families affected by the demolition, three of them died, 171 people were employed at the site, many of whom were also sleeping in makeshift cabins.
“Before the demolition, these farmers and their employees supported their families and paid for their children’s schools. Since the demolition, they have lost their source of income and suffered other violations of their rights, including access to health and education. Many of their children have been involved in many of their children. Some kids have to work hard to contribute to their family’s income because of lack of money.”
One of the farmers had amputated his feet after an accident a few years ago, and he invested all insurance money in rabbits and fish farming in Gesco Rivière. After the demolition, he had to move to his mother’s house with his wife and children because he could no longer pay the rent. Another retired farmer had to leave his home and set up in a makeshift hut in Banco Forest near his demolished farm.
The demolition and the subsequent loss of livelihoods also forced several farmers to stop their medical treatment. “I have diabetes and the soreness that I have to treat. I’m not going to the hospital since February 21, 2024 because I don’t have money,” a 65-year-old widow told Amnesty International.
Compensation measures must be urgently carried out for all affected persons
exist August 2024Amnesty International has documented human rights violations, affecting tens of thousands of families without proper prior notice and/or proper notice and/or compensation from the four Abidjan communities between January and June 2024, These include agriculture – the farmers of the Past Eberney Society.
In March 2024, the Ivorian authorities announced that as forced evictions continue, each household that has been affected has been affected by 250,000 FCFA (about 372 euros). On November 21, 2024, they announced a moratorium on evictions, resettlement solutions and support for income-generating activities in Abidjan, as well as the implementation of support measures announced in March 2024 for all affected people.
Amnesty International Asked The emergency implementation of these measures includes those who are neither tenants nor homeowners but who have lost property during the demolition. According to information collected by Amnesty International, people affected by forced evictions since January 2024 are still counted by a development department.
“In the inevitable expulsion, authorities must fully comply with national and international human rights standards and safeguard the rights contained in the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights, as well as the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights Ivoire in 1992 Approved,” Marceau Sivieude said.
background
Between January and June 2024, extensive demolition operations were carried out in four communities in Abidjan, which resulted in the forcibly expelled thousands of residents. The demolitions are part of a plan announced by the Abidjan Autonomous Region announced on February 26, 2024, with the goal of destroying 176 sites deemed vulnerable to flooding.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of Amnesty International.
