WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1, 2002—UPDATE 3:00 p.m. (EST) The Peace Corps announced this afternoon that efforts to consolidate the 133 volunteers who had been serving in Côte d’Ivoire, Africa, to Accra, Ghana are now complete.

Both the Peace Corps and the Department of State have confirmed that all volunteers have been escorted to safety and are accounted for. The consolidation was successfully completed without incident through the cooperation of the U.S. State Department and the government of France.

Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez said, “I am grateful for the excellent work of the Peace Corps staff in Cote d’Ivoire, at headquarters, and the U.S. Embassy. Their tireless efforts ensured that communication with all volunteers was ongoing throughout the consolidation process. I am thankful for the collaboration of the U.S. and French military as they worked to escort volunteers safely out of Côte d’Ivoire.”