Cross River govt bemoans influx of refugees from Cameroon, seeks FG aid
Cross River State government has expressed concern over the overwhelming numbers Cameroonian refugees trooping into the state.
The Director-General of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Janet Ekpenyong, said the state is now trying to contain the trend as things are getting out of hand.
She called on the federal government for intervention, noting that host communities of refugees can hardly handle the influx and the state government itself don’t have the resources bear such burden.
“Last Sunday, there was another set of Cameroonians who fled their country into a Cross River community in Bashu as a result of reported violence and killings” Ekpenyong told Daily Post in an interview
“These arrivals have increased the number of refugees in our state. We are hosting more than 50 per cent of refugees in the country. And this is really stressful to us. We are not getting commensurate support from the federal government. We are therefore making a strong appeal for support.”
Ekpenyong added that the new arrivals are being documented by relevant authorities so that they can be moved from Bashu to refugee camps.
The primary healthcare boss said upon the outbreak of the violence and their influx into the state, her agency had deplored a medical team to attend to them, test for some common diseases, including COVID-19, and have vaccinated their little children they came with.
She also confirmed that the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has since arrived with relief items, including foods for the refugees.
“My agency is working with good support from the state ministry of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNHCR and Doctors Without Borders. I must sincerely thank these bodies for prompt action and support.
“Once their registration is completed, they would be moved from Bashu community to different refugee camps in the state.”
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