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Tag: #UNHCR Nigeria

  • Cross River: UNHCR Pledges To Strengthen Humanitarian Support To Thousands Of Refugees From Cameroon.

    Cross River: UNHCR Pledges To Strengthen Humanitarian Support To Thousands Of Refugees From Cameroon.

     

    By Admin

    The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has promised strengthening of humanitarian support services to thousands of refugees from Cameroon residing in various parts of communities across Cross River State.

    Statistics made available to our correspondent reveal that there are over 38,000 Cameroonian refugees living at Etung, Akamkpa, Obanliku, Bakassi, Calabar, Ikom, Boki, Ogoja and Obudu communities and are facing various challenges. These refugees fled from Southern Cameroon following in-fighting between the Cameroonian government and some freedom fighters from Southern Cameroon.
    Since then, the UN Refugee Agency has supported the Cross River government by rehabilitating and upgrading public facilities including health, education and WASH as well as distributing non-food items, food, medicine, tools, and farm implements to the refugees and host communities.
    Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, in her office in Calabar at the weekend, the UNHCR Head of Sub-Office Ogoja, Mr Tesfaye Bekele, commended the State government for their commitment towards providing humanitarian services to the refugees and advocated for continuous support.
    Bekele promised to work in synergy with the coordinating ministry and other MDAs to deliver their mandate in line with the vision and mission of the organization to the people of Cross River.
    In her response, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the State government is committed to providing succour to the refugees residing across the communities in the State.
    She explained that the population of the refugees have been overwhelming and assured the team of the government’s readiness to partner with them in playing a role in humanitarian services and other areas as requested by MIDC as the coordinating partner.

  • Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    A pet project of the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, Mediatrix Development Foundation MDF, has taken a bold step to donate hand sanitizers to help contain the spread of corona virus and sanitary pads meant to aid the Cameroonian adolescent refugees maintain personal hygiene.

    Speaking during the presentation of the items at the Ogoja sub office, the Chief Operating Officer of MDF, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade, noted Mediatrix is committed to the welfare of the the people especially the vulnerable, and the reason the organization has decided to reach the refugees through the UN refugees agency, UNHCR.

    The COO stated that “This gesture is a deliberate effort of the President/Founder of MDF, Dr. Linda Ayade to mitigate the spread of corona virus among the Cameroonian refugees.

    “Let me also extend Her Excellency’s goodwill to UNHCR for the coordination of the refugees in Cross River State”

    Adamade who was represented by the Human Resource Officer, Doris Etta, use the opportunity to call on the refugees to maintain personal hygiene and social distancing, regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizer and face mask as well as the stay at home policy.

    Responding on behalf of UNHCR, the Senior Health Associate, Dr. Ernest Ochang commended the gesture of Mediatrix to donate the items to support the fight against the virus.

    Ochang noted that “On behalf of UNHCR, Ogoja Field Office, I receive these items and will communicate same. May God continue to enrich you so that you will continue to do more especially for those that are in dare need of this benevolence”

    Items presented include 328 pieces of hand sanitizer and 627 pieces of sanitary pads.

    Mediatrix Development Foundation is the UNHCR implementing partner for Peaceful Coexistence of Refugees with host Communities/ Distribution of Core Relief Materials for 2020.

    In 2018 – 2019, Mediatrix was the Livelihood implementing partner and trained over 1500 Cameroonian Refugees and a few host community members on different skills aimed at making them self reliant, including adolescents who were trained on peer mentorship.