March 8, 2022

The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said that 40,791 Cameroonians are taking refuge in the state following the crisis in southwest Cameroon.

SEMA Director-General, Mr. Princewill Ayim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar that the latest figure was released by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in January.

Ayim said that due to the closeness of some communities to the borders, the state had to accommodate the “persons of concern’’ and also abide by the 1951 Refugee Convention which Nigeria is a signatory.

One hundred and forty nine countries are signatories to the articles imbedded in the convention which defines who a refugee is and how countries pledge to protect them.

He said that the refugees were predominantly from the southwest Cameroon and were displaced due to the crisis between the Ambazonia separatists and the country’s military.

According to him, as a result of the crisis, thousands of Cameroonians had been forced to flee to Cross River for safety since 2017.

He said: “The latest figure released by the UNHCR in Jan. 2022 shows that Cross River is now accommodating 40,791 Cameroonian refugees.

“The refugees are scattered across nine local government areas of the state – Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Bakassi, Akamkpa, Etung, Ikom, Boki, Ogoja and Obanliku.

“However, this presents a new dimension to the already complex humanitarian situation in our state.

“Already, we have over 104,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) spread across Abi, Biase, Bakassi, Odukpani, Obanliku and Ogoja Local Government Areas due to communal crisis, flood and border issues.’’

Ayim said the state had carried out on-the-spot visits to the refugee settlements and host communities to get data on the vulnerability and socio economic situation of the refugees and the IDPs.

He recalled that in February, an inter-ministerial team visited all the host communities and refugee settlements across the state.

Ayim said the team comprised the Federal Ministry of Health, National Commission for Refugees, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, UNHCR, SEMA and the Cross River Ministry of Education.

He said the aim of the visit was to assess the refugees’ condition, see the gaps in-between and see where they could assist.

According to Ayim, the visit also afforded the team the opportunity to see how they could implement the comprehensive refugees’ response framework in the state.

“We have some challenges because the influx of refugees is on the increase daily and this requires continuous critical multi-sectoral assistance in non-food items, water, sanitation and health, shelter, food and education.

“We also need psycho social support for the refugees because of issues of suicide in the settlements.

“Our schools and health facilities are over stretched due to the increasing number of refugees,’’ he said.

He thanked the UNHCR for its assistance in line with the global compact on refugees and refugee response framework of easing pressure on the host communities and proffering solution to refugee situation. (NAN)