UNHCR intervenes as Cameroonian refugees flood Nigeria

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun intervention in the management of Cameroonian refugees streaming into Nigeria.

More than 5,000 persons have already arrived five border communities, the Commission said, describing their situation as “worrisome”.

Following shutdown of the Nigeria-Cameroon border at Mfum/Ekok, Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, had said about 40,000 refugees were expected to migrate to Nigeria, as projected by the United Nations Refugee Agency, and that Cross River State was expected to host close to 30,000.

On Tuesday, Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), John Inaku, led a team from the UNHCR to Utanga and Amana in Obanliku local government area, preparatory to an intervention in the crisis. He urged the host communities to sustain the tempo of their generosity.

The team expressed concern over the challenge of meeting the needs of the affected and disclosed readiness to partner with Nigerian authorities to address the issue.

UNHCR official, Mr. Sam Agwa, said the condition of the refugees was disturbing, even as he commended the magnanimity of their host communities. Another staff, Mshilia Ibrahim, added that plans were underway to provide shelter for the refugees.

Eric Shu, coordinator of Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), revealed that more than 50 women of the over 5,000 refugees in Utanga and Amana, were pregnant and needed urgent medical attention and shelter.