Manyu Division: Over 3000 IDPs, 600 Returning Refugees Benefit Biya’s New Year Gifts

-SW Governor hails decision of refugees to return home, encourages others to do same so as to benefit from NW, SW reconstruction, dev’t plan

 

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaoundé 

Inhabitants of Mamfe in Manyu Division South West region, affected by the ongoing armed conflict have been handed President Paul Biya’s end-of-year humanitarian gifts to assist them start the new year with smiles on their faces despite the hard times they go through as a result of the conflict. 

Ex-refugees receiving gifts 

The distribution exercise of the items to the beneficiaries included over 3000 internally displaced persons and over 600 Cameroonians refugees who have just returned from Nigeria where they escaped for fear of gunshots in the Division.

The relief materials handed to the IDPs included mattresses, blankets, buckets, bathing soap and foodstuffs like rice, sardine, spaghetti, vegetable oil among others. 

Speaking while supervising the distribution exercise, South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, saluted the decision of the refugees to return home. He encouraged them to also convinced others still living in the neighbouring country in order to benefit from the reconstruction plan of government. 

“The Head of State is happy with your return and has decided to welcome you home with these gifts,” Okalia told the recipients, adding that the Head of State is very much ready to receive others who express the desire to return to their homeland given improved security situation. 

Okalia said their return will help hasten the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the two crisis-hit regions. he added that there can’t be any meaningful reconstruction without the presence of the population who are the beneficiaries. 

The Governor seized the opportunity to once more call on those still in the bushes to drop their weapons, enrol into the DDR centres for training, reintegration into the society like their peers.  

The population expressed gratitude to the presidential couple for the gifts and prayed for a permanent solution to the conflict to enable them peacefully regain their villages, farmlands and engage in their activities.