The Lumine News

Tag: #CRSEMA

  • UNHCR Takes Advocacy To Ogoja Urban To Mark 2021 World Refugees Day

    UNHCR Takes Advocacy To Ogoja Urban To Mark 2021 World Refugees Day

    By Elijah Ugani

    The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, has taken advocacy to residents of Ogoja Urban as part of its plan of activities to mark the 2021 World Refugees Day WRD.

    The advocacy walk which commenced at 8.00am from the State High Court Ogoja through Zenith bank roundabout, to Mission road, through market road to Ishibori and back to the State High Court on Saturday, 19th June, 2021 had in attendance all implementing partners, representatives of National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, representatives of State Emergency Management Agency SEMA, Community Based Organizations, refugees and staff of UNHCR.

    Mr. Sally Osajie who anchored the walk sensitized the public at strategic locations, and maintained that “it is not a crime to be a refugee. We are on the streets of Ogoja to celebrate the refugees, please do not discriminate them. When they come to the market, give them equal opportunity, they are part of us”

    Speaking to The Lumine News, on the importance of the walk, the Head of Sub Office Ogoja, Mr. Tesfaye Bekele maintained that “We are to celebrate and commemorate with the refugees who are here seeking protection from the Nigerian government”.

    Speaking on them of the 2021 world refugees day, ‘Together we can achieve anything’ Mr. Tesfaye maintained that “There is nothing one alon can do, it is to show togetherness of the Nigerian government, the host communities, International communities and UNHCR to stand in solidarity with the refugees, to appreciate them for the courage they have to survive the difficult situation”

    On his part, the UNHCR Deputy Representative (Protection) Abuja, Mr. John Mekissick held that “We are here to celebrate the refugees. Nobody wants to be a refugee. Today and tomorrow, we celebrate their resilience, their ability to work together with the host communities, to learn, to hear and to shine. Together, we can achieve anything”

  • UNFPA Donates 1297 Dignity Kits To CRSG For Refugee Settlements in Ogoja

    UNFPA Donates 1297 Dignity Kits To CRSG For Refugee Settlements in Ogoja

    By Elijah Ugani

    UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

    The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as part of its resolve to support the Cross River State Government to cater for the welfare of the Cameroonian Refugees in the state, has donated 1297 dignity kits to refugees in the settlements in Ogoja to help women and girls maintain their dignity during humanitarian crises.

    The dignity kit is a collection of different items: reusable sanitary pads, rechargeable solar lamp, omo detergent, medicated soap, female underwear, rubber slippers and blankets.

    Presenting the dignity kits to the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Head of UNFPA Calabar Sub Office, Dr. Omolaso Omosehin (represented by FGM Analyst- Ms Theresa Adah) noted that UNFPA is pleased to identify with the plight of the Cameroonian Refugees, as he commended the effort of the Cross River State Government and UNHCR to alleviate the plight of the refugees and stressed that the gesture is in consonant with the ‘delivery as one’.

    The Head of Calabar Sub Office averred that the focus of distribution of the dignity kits was on girls and women of reproductive age as well as other vulnerable women (such as women living with disabilities, women living with HIV and the elderly who may be the most vulnerable).

    She used the occasion to appeal to other refugees especially the male folks to bear with UNFPA at the moment.

     

    Receiving the Items on behalf of State Emergency Management Agency Director General, Mr. Princewill Ayim, the SEMA Supervisor for Adagom 1 settlement, Mr. Hillary Agida commended UNFPA for the donation and promised to work with UNHCR to ensure the successful distribution of the kits to the beneficiaries.

    Mr. Princewill Ayim, DG, State Emergency Management Agency, also used the opportunity to thank UNFPA for all the interventions in the state that seek to address the plight of Cross Riverians, and by extension the Cameroonian Refugees.

    He maintained that “Cross River State under the leadership of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade will continue to do its best for the Cameroonian Refugees”.

    Responding on behalf of the refugees, the Chairman, Relief Support and Crisis Management, Mr. Lawrence Eno thanked UNFPA for the support and averred that the gesture will support girls’ and women’s self-esteem and confidence to be able to participate in activities in the settlements. The solar lights, he says “will help our children read at night”.

    This donation of dignity kits comes barely one month after UNFPA organized a one-week training to increase the knowledge, skills and professional competencies of state and non-state actors to provide effective services to Gender Based Violence survivors in humanitarian settings.