The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has donated computers and computer accessories as well as office equipment including photocopiers, printers and reams of paper to the Police Prefectures of Gagnoa and Man and the Police station in Lakota.



The donations were given within the framework of UNOCI's quick impact projects programme (QIPs) and aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Ivorian security structures.



The Police Prefecture of Man (580 km north-west of Abidjan) on 22 January 2014 received equipment and materials worth CFA 11 million (22,000 USD) that were handed over to the Police Prefect Christian Dehoule by UNOCI's interim Police Commander of Sector West, Colonel Abdoulaye Toubi. The Police Prefect, on behalf of the Director-General of Police, thanked UNOCI for its assistance to Cote d'Ivoire in general and the Ivorian Police in particular. "These materials we are receiving have come as a breath of oxygen considering the difficulties we have been encountering in the discharge of our daily duties. Rest assured that we will use them carefully and rationally in order that they can serve the people for as long as possible," he said.



The administrative Prefect of Tonkpi Region Jerome Kaya Soro, on behalf of the Minister of Interior and security expressed the gratitude of the Ivorian government to the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs. Aïchatou Mindaoudou for her constant support and especially for the donation to the Tonkpi Police.



A day before, it was the turn of the Police Prefecture of Gagnoa and the Police station of Lakota to receive computer equipment still under UNOCI's QIPs programme which the UNPOL interim Commander said "would make police duties such as the writing of crime investigation and accident reports more efficient." He expressed satisfaction with results obtained in the Goh and Loh-Djiboua regions concerning the fight against insecurity. Police Prefect Kamagate Zoumana expressed gratitude for the donation and promised to put it to good use.



For his part, the Police Commissioner of Lakota Jean Claude Gaye could not hold his joy as his station received four computers, a photocopier and three printers. "At a time when Cote d'Ivoire is coming out of a crisis and moving towards normalization, these working tools have come at the right time. The rehabilitation and equipping of the police station by UNOCI contributes to the improvement of the working conditions of the Police," he said.



The handing over ceremony in Gagnoa was attended by the Mayor Sylla Yacouba, the local police officers and a UNOCI delegation from Divo.