UNHCR Seeks Collaboration With Stakeholders To Cater For 45,000 Cameroon refugees in Nigeria

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS has called for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to tackle the refugees’ challenges.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Speaker of Cross State House of Assembly on Thursday in Calabar, the High Commission representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Antonio Canhandula, disclosed that there are 46,000 refugees from Cameron currently in Nigeria with 33,000 living in Cross River.

He said he was in the Assembly to seek partnership with the state legislature on the way forward, expressing appreciation to state government for their support and solicited for increased assistance.

He said, “As I speak, we have 46,000 refugees from Cameron currently in Nigeria. Out of this, Cross River has 33,000 out of this number and 70 per cent of refugees from Cameron live in Cross River.

“The UNHCR decided to move the refugee camps to Ogoja when it discovered that there was high concentration of refugees in the northern part of the state.

 “The UNHCR is seeking collaboration with relevant sectors including Ministries of Health, Education and Women Affairs to tackle some of the challenges facing the refugees.”

Responding, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Eteng Williams, commended the UNHCR for the visit and promised the House would partner with the UN body.

“We are ready to partner with you. All you need to do is to always inform us of your plans,” he said.