Life Among the Lobi: A Picture of Cote d'Ivoire Beyond the Politics (77 images)

The Lobi people--migrating south into Cote d'Ivoire generations ago from from Burkina Faso--of north-east Cote d'Ivoire are a resilient, resourceful people in spite of the many difficulties in their path.

With the economic depression that has blanketed the region since the onset of hostilities and civil unrest in the late 1990's, life had become increasingly difficult for the populace.

As buyers for cash crops--especially the cashews grown in this region--have...
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The Lobi people--migrating south into Cote d'Ivoire generations ago from from Burkina Faso--of north-east Cote d'Ivoire are a resilient, resourceful people in spite of the many difficulties in their path.

With the economic depression that has blanketed the region since the onset of hostilities and civil unrest in the late 1990's, life had become increasingly difficult for the populace.

As buyers for cash crops--especially the cashews grown in this region--have steadily decreased their going rates, the bite of poverty is afflicting much of the population of this already struggling prefecture.

Rebel-controlled for the past several years, such things as well-stocked pharmacy shelves, vaccination programs and paid school teachers are non-existant at present.

What improvement seen in the last several years to this situation has evaporated with the re-emergence of hostilities and fighting brought on by the December 2010 presidential elections.

As is always the case, in times of trouble, it is often those who are already struggling who end up bearing much of the weight of the difficulties.
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