x

C/River hosts 36,000 Cameroonian refugees -SEMA DG

The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Monday said that the state was currently hosting 36,044 Cameroonian refugees in its settlements across the state.

Mr Princewill Ayim, Director General of SEMA in Cross River, disclosed this in an Interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Ayim said the refugees were currently in three settlements in Adagom 1, Adagom 3 and Ukende, all in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

Ayim told NAN that with the increasing number of refugees been registered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the number has risen from 35,965 in 2019 to 36,044 in January 2020.

According to him, the figure represents 69.5 per cent of the total number of Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria, adding that the new figure was released by the UNHCR in January 2020.

The DG said that since the crisis broke out in October 2017 in Cameroon over the demand for Ambazonia Republic by the Anglophone Cameroonians, the settlement had continued to witness an increase of Cameroonian refugees into the state through land borders.

Ayim told NAN that the official number of refugees in Nigeria has risen from 51,723 in December 2019 to 51,864 in the latest data obtained by UNHCR.

He added that from the latest figure, 45.9 per cent of the refugees are male, while the female represents 54.1 per cent.

“As we speak, the number of Cameroonian refugees in Cross River has increased from 35,965 in December 2019 to 36,044 in January 2020.

“This is so because the number keeps increasing due to the crisis that is yet to be addressed in Southern Cameroon.

“These refugees are being registered by the UNHCR as they come in. As we speak, the facilities in the camps are been overstretched because of the increasing numbers.

“We wish to call on the international bodies and the federal government to come in and assist the state government in providing certain facilities like water, education, social support and others,” he said.

He told NAN that the host communities have been very hospitable and cooperative with the refugees, adding that most refugees have integrated themselves with the way of life of the people in the area.

“On security, Gov. Ben Ayade has done a lot in ensuring that the refugees are protected and allowed to move freely with their identity cards like any other resident in the state.

“Ayade is a humanitarian by nature, he does not joke with cases of refugees in the state; he is intervening in healthcare, social and security support among many others,” he said.

Ayim added that plans were on to expand the camps with a view to prevent any disease outbreak. (NAN)

Hot this week

Wike Assures 12-Month Completion of Nigerian Law School Hostel

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike...

Police recover 72 phones from robbery syndicate in A’ibom

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,UyoThe Police in Akwa Ibom has smashed...

Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara Salutes Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, at 91

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman...

Kogi State Polytechnic Urges Prosecution of Staff Over Alleged Salary Fraud

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Management of Kogi State Polytechnic,...

Taiwan elects new pro-Mainland China leader of KMT party

By Daybreak NigeriaNewly elected opposition Kuomintang (KMT)...

China: Africa’s Most Reliable Companion on Africa’s Path to Development

By:-H.E. Ambassador JIANG Feng, Head of the Mission of the People’s Republic of...

Kano Speaker Falgore Hails Kwankwaso as a Beacon of Hope on His Birthday

By Jabiru Hassan, KanoThe Speaker of the Kano State...

BREAKING: Police Arrest Omoyele Sowore at Abuja Court

Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested...

Truck Crushes Female Federal University Lokoja Lecturer to Death in Lokoja

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaA female lecturer at the Federal...

KADMAM-CSO Urges Transparent Use, Community Monitoring of N32.9bn Basic Health Care Fund

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThe Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna...

Dencia Weighs In on Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko Marriage Drama

Cameroonian singer and entrepreneur, Dencia, has reacted to the...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img
Previous article
Next article