Amnesty International has warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Côte d'Ivoire after electricity and water supplies were cut to large parts of the country earlier this week.
Central, northern and western areas of the country are now suffering from poor sanitation and disrupted medical facilities, according to information and eyewitness accounts gathered by Amnesty International.
On 3 March 2011, the Ivorian electricity company has denied any responsibility for the power cuts, which began on 28 February. The company said officials loyal to outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo had made the cuts "for national security reasons".
The areas affected are mostly controlled by forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the November 2010 presidential elections.
"Outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo must immediately order the reestablishment of water and electricity supplies in these areas," said Gaëtan Mootoo, Amnesty International's West Africa researcher.