Over 40,000 Cameroonians storm southwest Nigeria to seek refuge - UN

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October 31, 2017 at 11:56AM
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Wale Akinola

- More than 40,000 Cameroonians have stormed Nigeria to seek refuge

- The refugees fled their country following renewed violence in Anglophone parts of Cameroon earlier in October

- The UNHCR’s spokesperson, Babar Baloch said that 2, 000 people have been registered with the help of local partners

The UN Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) together with the local authorities in southwestern Nigeria, is assisting the recently arrived Cameroonians seeking refuge and safety.

According to UNHCR’s spokesperson, Babar Baloch, thousands have fled to Nigeria following renewed violence in Anglophone parts of Cameroon earlier in October.

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Baloch who made the statement on Tuesday, October 31, during a press briefing in des Nations in Geneva, said that the agency had registered over two thousand people with the help of local partners.

Cameroonians flee separatist crackdown to Nigeria. Photo credit: UNHCR

He said: “Together with the Nigerian authorities, we have registered some 2,000 people so far, with the help of our local partners in various locations in Southwestern Nigeria. An additional 3,000 are awaiting registration, while more people might be trapped in forests on the Cameroonian side as they attempt to cross the border.

“UNHCR and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) are distributing relief items in Nigeria’s Cross River state.

“UNHCR/Nigeria teams are jointly visiting different locations to better assess the situation and register new arrivals. We have also delivered relief items such as mattresses and blankets, mosquito nets, cooking utensils or hygiene kits, as well as 40 tons of food. UNHCR will continue the distribution of relief materials in several locations this week.

“UNHCR is working with the Nigerian government and other UN agencies on a contingency plan, readying humanitarian assistance for up to 40,000 people crossing into Nigeria. Our fear, however, is that 40,000 might actually be a conservative figure in a situation where the conflict might continue.

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“Nigeria and Cameroon are already grappling with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with 2.5 million people displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

“The current influx of Cameroonian seeking refuge in Nigeria poses additional challenges to the international community and burden to an already stretched assistance.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that 11 villagers were killed in Guderi, northern Cameroon by Boko Haram terrorists.

Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV

Source: Naija.ng

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Over 40,000 Cameroonians storm southwest Nigeria to seek refuge - UN
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