In his humanitarian gesture to give solace to distress populations from neighboring countries who have fled violence to take refuge in Cameroon, President Paul Biya, has again made huge offers to thousands of refugees from the Central African Republic, living in the East Region.
The gifts from the Cameroonian leader was offered to the refugees by Territorial Administration Minister, Paul Atanga Nji during a four day visit to the region. Minister also used the tour to evaluate the security situation of the border locality as well as difficulties and challenges faced by the host communities and the refugees.
The MINAT boss first stop was at Garoua Boulai where he offered assistance to consisting mattresses, blankets, vegetable oil, sardine and toiletries to some 550 refugee families from Central African Republic and 100 host families and communities as well as financial assistance to permit them transport their gifts back home. The beneficiaries are refugees have been in Garoua Boulai since December 2020 violence in their country.
Adamou Abdon, Mayor of Garoua Boulai seized the opportunity to hail the gesture from the presidential couple. He particularly President Biya’s humane and fatherly aid to those in distress.
The Mayor heaped praises on Minister Atanga Nji Paul, who within six months has visited Garoua Boulai twice for assist people in difficulties. Atanga Nji it should be recalled visited the locally January 10, 2021, to assist some Chinese business operators who fled violence in the neighbouring country.
Adamou Abdon also stated that a wave of the refugees have been transferred to the Bado Gadzere Refugee camp and are being catered for by UNHCR and other development partners of Cameroon. He said the influx of the refugees, mainly women and children is becoming a major challenge due to scarce natural resources like water and farmland. The UNHCR representative, Cesar Mbav Tshilombo said just about 13 percent of the refugees have undergone formal education.
Atanga Nji reminded the refugees and the population of President Biya’s time tested legendary hospitality towards foreigners in difficulties and internally displaced Cameroonians. He added that Cameroon has remained a reference since time immemorial in the handling of refugees living on Cameroonian soil. President Biya’s envoy tasked refugees to respect the laws of Cameroon in order to live harmoniously with the host communities.
From Garoua Boulai, Minister Atanga Nji Paul was accompanied to Kentzou in the Kadey Division by Gabriel Dodo Ndoki, Minister of Mines and Technological Development who doubles as an elite of the area, UNHCR representative, administrative, traditional and religious leaders to supervise the handing over of special relief package comprising mattresses, blankets, buckets with some food and non-food items amongst other gifts to some 350 refugee families from Central African Republic and 50 host families living in Kentzou.
Barka Donatien, Mayor of Kentzou appreciated the sacrifices of the cabinet ministers to visit and commune with them and the numerous refugees in their municipality. Kentzou, the Mayor revealed is today the only municipality in Cameroon where the refugee population far surpasses the indigenes since the outbreak of violence in Central African Republic in 2013. The municipality it should be noted was created in 1985.
The municipal authority thanked the Head of State who he said had earlier in the year dispatched a consignment of Covid-19 kits to them and pleaded with the powers that be to appoint sons and daughters of the locality to posts of responsibilities and split the Canton which till date does not have a second class chiefdoms.
The representative of the CAR refugees thanked President Paul Biya for alleviating their suffering with the relief assistance. He also thanked the local population for accommodating them and promised that they will use the assistance for the purpose intended and will obey the laws and regulations of their host country and communities.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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