Gagnoa, 22 September 2009... The populations of Kéi-Gbahi, a village situated 25 kms from Ouragahio, organized on Saturday 19 September 2009, a thanksgiving ceremony in honour of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). The event followed the rehabilitation by the UN mission of two school buildings, comprising six classrooms and two teachers' offices, the mending of the school's desks and benches, and the construction of two sanitary blocks for students and teachers.

These works, which cost about eight millions francs CFA, were financed by UNOCI as part of its Quick impact projects programme (QIPs) aimed at supporting communities.

"Who would have thought that UNOCI was so generous?" Saturnin Gaoudi, member of parliament for Ouragahio/Bayota and chairperson of the ceremony, said in an address, adding that the villagers were grateful to the UN mission for providing their children with a good learning environment. The project was proof of UNOCI's will to contribute to development in Côte d'Ivoire, he said, because education is the path to economic progress. For Gaoudi, "the war is really over and the populations of Gbadi canton [of which Kéi-Gbahi is a part] recognize in these peacekeepers, these brave men and women who come from all over the world, the genuine authors of this peace".

Blé Houphouët, who represented the sponsor of the ceremony, Minister of Animal Production and Fisheries Alphonse Douaty, welcomed UNOCI's action, particularly the construction of latrines, which, he said, would help preserve the children's health by protecting them, in particular, against the bites of reptiles and harmful insects.

The chief of UNOCI's delegation, Axel Queval, said the United Nations attached great importance to education. He recalled that, in its peace missions, the UN always pays particular attention to children, the most vulnerable stratum of society. He therefore invited the population to facilitate access to school for all the children of the region.

The two schools rehabilitated by UNOCI have a total student body estimated at more than 300 children.