Cote D’Ivoire has been in political crisis since last November’s polls when the outgoing leader, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, refused to stand down to the polls-winner Alassane Ouattara.  The country is currently facing international financial pressure and bans.

The Views from the Frontline survey process was delayed as a consequence, but the National Coordinating Organisation  who had signed up to carry out the survey worked harder to meet the tight deadlines.  I asked Ange David Emmanuel Baimey, Director of JVE-Cote d’Ivoire and National Coordinating organisation for the VFL in Cote d’Ivoire, why he went ahead with the survey, inspite of the delays caused by the political crisis.    He replied, “We think that there is nothing more important than the life of people.  In the past year, our country has known more disasters than before and our NGO wants to help reduce that.”  He added, “The struggle to help people and save lives is the most important one we encounter daily and if administering this survey can bring us closer to reducing the risk of disasters in our area, then we shall continue to be a part of this important process, despite the bad political situation going on.”