Groups seek UN’S intervention over Cameroun refugees
WORRIED by the perplexing humanitarian crisis facing the Camerounian refugees in Okwangwo in Boki Local Council of Cross River State, some groups have called for an urgent intervention of the United Nations (UN).
They said it behooved on all stakeholders, especially the UN, the state and Federal Government to intervene in the crisis, which he said, may degenerate further if not properly handled.
The Collective Development
Initiative (CDI) in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Enterprise and Employment
Scheme (AKEES) made the appeal in Okwangwo while donating relief materials to the refugees.
This was the first relief material the refugees have received since arrival about three months ago following the crisis in Cameroun.
While making the presen- tation, the Executive
Director of
CDI, Ambassador Aniefiok Jimmy, said that the donation was necessitated by the sufferings of the Camerounian refugees and the burden of the host community in caring for them for the past three months without receiving assistance from other quarters.
He said it was disheartening and dehumanising to observe that over 200 children of school age were out of school on account of the displacement, while their parents could barely fend for themselves.
He lamented that the world was not adequately in tune with the humanitarian crisis in Okwangwo and some other communities hosting the Camerounian refugees hence the lukewarm response to their situation and promised to mobilise more relief materials for them.
Responding, General Manager of AKEES, Bassey Friday said that his compa- ny would take particular interest in the education of the children by providing more notebooks and pencils for them.
Speaking, Director General, Cross-river State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), John Inaku, commended the team for their magnanimity saying the donation would encourage the refugees.
He said there were over 300 refugees in Okwangwo and that several thousands were in Ukwa I and II, as well as in Bashu communities in Boki who have not been attended to.
He, however, assured the refugees that the state and Federal Governments were making arrangements to intervene soon.
Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the refugees, Chairman of Okwangwo Community, Cyprian Oki described the gesture as a relief not only to the refugees but also to the community, which have been fending for them since their arrival.