Victims of torrential rains: First Lady Dominique Ouattara donates aid worth 45 million CFA francs
First Lady Dominique Ouattara has once again demonstrated her solidarity with communities severely affected by recent events. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, she dispatched a delegation from her office led by her Chief of Staff, Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie, to visit the families of victims of the torrential rains that struck the areas of Attecoube and Yopougon on June 28 and 29.
This visit of compassion takes place against the backdrop of a heavy human toll. Indeed, severe weather since the start of the rainy season has claimed 59 lives across the country, prompting calls for residents in high-risk areas to observe safety measures to prevent further tragedies.
Attecoube, the most severely affected area
The first stop on this solidarity mission was the neighbourhood of Attecoube, which remains the area most severely affected by the severe weather.
The delegation first visited the Municipal Public Primary School on the left bank of Attecoube, where families of victims from the Limatoulaye and Santé neighborhoods had gathered. Nineteen (19) people lost their lives there.
They then proceeded to the mosque at Place Caïman in Attecoube Agban, where families of victims from the right bank had assembled. Twenty-seven (27) deaths were recorded there.
In total, Attecoube recorded forty-five (45) victims, making it the most severely affected by this disaster.
On behalf of the First Lady, Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie presented the families with aid consisting of food and non-food items valued at fifteen (15) million CFA francs, as well as financial support amounting to five (5) million CFA francs. The total value of these donations is twenty (20) million CFA francs.
Addressing the bereaved families, the Chief of Staff conveyed a message of compassion from Mrs. Dominique Ouattara. She noted that the First Lady has always stood by the people of Attecoube during both happy times and difficult periods. Faced with this latest tragedy, she could not remain indifferent to the suffering of the affected families. She also relayed the First Lady’s appeal urging residents to leave areas identified as dangerous in order to save lives. “life is priceless,” she reminded them.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Danho Paulin Claude, First Vice-Governor of the Autonomous District of Abidjan and Mayor of Attecoube, expressed the population’s deep gratitude to Mrs. Dominique Ouattara for this gesture of solidarity. He highlighted that his municipality remains the area hardest hit by this disaster.
Spokespersons for the bereaved families, Mr. Maniga Singo and Mr. Sogbo Alman, also expressed their appreciation to the First Lady for her moral and material support.
A Visit to Yopougon to show compassion
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Yopougon town hall to convey the First Lady’s support and comfort to the victims’ families.
Eleven people from eight families lost their lives in this area. On behalf of the First Lady, donations of food and non-food items with a total value of 25 million CFA francs, along with 5 million CFA francs in cash, were presented to the victims’ families.
Speaking for Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, Mrs. Yao Patricia Sylvie reaffirmed the First Lady’s closeness to the bereaved families. She highlighted the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of the population, demonstrated through the numerous social, educational, and health initiatives led by the Children of Africa Foundation.
She once again emphasized the need for residents to leave areas at risk of flooding, stressing that protecting human lives must remain an absolute priority.
The Mayor of Yopougon, Mr. Adama Bictogo, commended the First Lady’s steadfast commitment to the people of Cote d’Ivoire.
Mrs. Sacko Benedicte, Secretary General of the Abidjan Prefecture, also expressed her gratitude for this gesture of solidarity while urging the public to remain vigilant during the rainy season.
On behalf of the bereaved families, Mr. Vassi Felix thanked Mrs. Dominique Ouattara for her support, compassion, and assistance, which bring comfort to the families deeply affected by this tragedy.