Ambazonian refugees get relief materials in Akwa’Ibom ⁰

Cameroonian refugees have received relief materials consisting of rice, salt, tin tomatoes, detergent, maggie seasoning, cooking oil and toiletries worth thousands of naira from a non Governmental Organisation, Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre.

Speaking after the donation at the weekend in Ekpuk Community, Mkpat Enin Local government Area, Mr Eric Shu, Chief Executive Officer, Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre, said the organisation was moved by the plight of refugees in the camp.

Noting that the relief materials would go a long way to improve the living condition of the refugees, Shut added that the donation was in line with the objectives of the NGO to render assistance to the poor and vulnerable ones, as well as transform deprived communities in Africa.

He said the Centre was also involved in establishing projects like borehole, shelter and construction of schools to enable deprived persons feel accepted in the community.

“Rhema Care has been working in Nigeria with the poor and vulnerable population in various areas in Nigeria.

“When we heard of the refugees situation in Nigeria, with Cameroonians coming in, we felt that this is our area of operation. So, we initiated an intervention; Akwa Ibom is one of those areas we are intervening.

“Even when the National commission for refugees and United Nation have registered the refugees in Akwa Ibom, not all were registered.

“Apart from the relief materials, we are also looking at the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene for this community. We believe that we would be able to rehabilitate the borehole that has been completely blocked; there is also the issue of shelter and education, ” he said.

He commended the indigenes of Ekpuk community for their hospitality towards the refugees, and appealed that they should not relent in their humanitarian gesture.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator, Bakassi IDPs in Akwa Ibom Mr Aston Joseph, said the political unrest in Cameroon led many Cameroonians to migrate into Nigeria.

Advising the refugees to be law abiding, maintain the peace and unity which has been in existence in the state, before their arrival, Joseph said, “Since October 2017, there had been a serious political unrest in Cameroon, that made many Cameroonians to migrate into Nigeria and some of them are Nigerians who were born and brought up in Cameroon.”

The Chairman of the Ekpuk community, Mr Sunday Mboso, commended Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre,  for their kind gesture in providing assistance to the refugees.

“I want to thank Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre for helping the people. it is not an easy task and God will continue to bless you people.

“I also want to assure you that the refugees will always be accepted and protected in the community,” he said.

In their appreciation, Miss Epolle Njume, one of the leaders in the camp and a beneficiary, thanked the organisation for the assistance rendered to them.

She appealed to other NGOs and philanthropic organisations to emulate the Rhema Centre and provide youths in the camp with skills to empower them to be self-reliance.

“I am so delighted, but we still have other challenges like where to sleep, food, as well as lack of medical assistance. We are also pleading that the State Government and other agencies help us by training us to acquire skills that will enable us take care of ourselves,” she said.

Culled from Oracle News