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The Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation Dr Inyang Asibong, has urged the United Nation’s Organization in charge of Refugees UNHCR, to evolve new strategies of partnership with the state with a view to bring about proper response to refugees challenges.
The Commissioner made this known when Officials of UNHCR paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
Receiving a team of UNHCR Officials in her office, the Commissioner said as a Ministry that mediates between the State Government and International Organizations working in the State, it was necessary to profile the activities of the Organization as it relates to refugees.
Dr Asibong emphasized that as a UN Agency that handles affairs of the displaced persons especially within the African region, UNHCR owes it as a duty, to make available their programs and projects.
“I want to say welcome, and thank you for coming, UNHCR has been working in Cross River State, I know that you’re doing very well. I’ve severally been to the Refugee settlement you have in Ogoja”
The Commissioner further explained that the Ministry’s mandate was to coordinate activities of Development Partners. She used the occasion to request UNHCR to review its response approach to enable the state government key into its plan for effective partnership to ameliorate the plight of the refugees in the state.
Speaking earlier on the essence of the visit, the head of UNHCR office in Cross River Mr Tesfaye Bekele, stated that Cross River is one of the few states where refugees are treated with dignity as brothers and sisters, because of the pragmatic leadership of the Governor, Prof Ben Ayade.
Mr. Bekele averred that “Honestly speaking, this is commendable, we are happy about it. We’ll continue to cooperate with the State Government, but we need your support”
Mr Tesfaye also noted that UNHCR needs expansion and currently has presence in Ogoja, Cross River State, Benue, Taraba and wherever there are refugees. He explained that the Organization which has its operational office in Ogoja currently, oversees all refugees programs including the Cameroon refugees program in the states of Cross River, Taraba and Benue. He said the choice of Ogoja was because that is where the Organization has the largest number of refugees. The Head of Sub office agreed on an MOU to be entered into, to improve on support from the State Government.
In attendance at the meeting were, the Head of Sub office Mr Tesfaye Bekele; UNHCR Protection Officer, Jonathan Darko and Christopher Mubanga, the Head of Calabar Field Office.
Others were the Permanent Secretary of MIDC, Mr Akwaji Timothy, and Directors in the MIDC.
Highpoint of the visit was the delineation of an MOU between the Ministry and UNHCR.
