By Akpan David, Calabar
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has commended the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade for playing host to over 62,000 Cameroonian refugees and providing for them.
The Sub Head of UNHCR office in Ogoja, Cross River, Tsefaye Bekele gave the commendation at the governor’s office in Calabar when they donated an ambulance, a vehicle and vaccine carriers to support the hosting efforts.
“I’m very much honoured and privileged to present this token of Ambulance, vehicle and vaccine carriers to the Cross River state government for catering to the needs of the Cameroonian refugees in Ogoja.
“These items are a token to express our appreciation and gratitude for the great support UNCHR has been getting from Cross River state government at all levels since the Cameroonian refugees arrived in the state.
“Majority of the Cameroonian refugees are in Ogoja. That is why our main Office is in Ogoja. I am here with other UN agencies and we are all happy and we express our gratitude to the government for making out time to receive these items”, Bekele said.
Receiving the items, Ayade pleaded with the UN to do more especially in the area of foods to the refugees, saying the kind gesture has weighed on the state.
Ayade said hosting the refugees was one big challenge the state has had to shoulder for the sake of humanity.
“When the Cameroonian conflict started and there was need for us to provide a location for the refugees, it was a big challenge because we knew that it comes with consequences, especially the sociological implication of having people who have been completely dislocated from their communities settle in squalor, raising children in such conditions and then becoming a source of challenge.”
He thanked the UNCHR for “recognising the fact that we took a great leap of faith by providing land to you to host over 62,000 refugees in our state.
“We want to quickly mention that we also need your support in the food supply chain for the refugees.
“The population of refugees keeps growing. The children of yesterday are today’s adults and the recreation continues, and it also comes with the problem of food sufficiency”
He appealed to the UNCHR to look the way of Cross River in sourcing for food for the refugees while expressing optimism that a time would come when they will return to their home country.
“Cross River state has invested heavily on the food chain. We have noodles, we have chicken, we have rice, we have vegetable oil etc. So, the UNHCR, instead of sourcing food from outside Cross River should patronise our people.”
