Some 3000 internally displaced persons and 500 Cameroonian refugees from Nigeria have received humanitarian gifts from the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.
The ceremony took place Thursday January 7, 2021 at the Mamfe ceremonial ground, Manyu Division of the South West region.
It was presided at by the governor of the region, Bernard Okalia Bilai.
Amongst the gifts were metrasses, blankets, vegetable oil, bags of rice, spaghetti, buckets, savons just to name but these.
Besides honoring the IDPs, special attention was given to the refugees who decided to return to their homeland.
According to the governor, it was a wise decision from the refugees to return, and the Head of State cannot be indifferent.
“The Head of State is happy with your return and has decided to welcome you home with these gifts,” the governor told them.
Bernard Okalia Bilai, during the ceremony disclosed that the Head of State is very much ready to welcome every Cameroonian refugee who will take the wise decision to return home, given that the security situation in the country is under control.
Their coming home according to the governor will hasten the reconstruction and development process in the two English speaking regions.
“There can’t be any meaningful reconstruction without the presence of the population, who are we reconstructing for?” Bernard Okalia Bilai said.
He equally seized the occasion to re-echoe the call for those still in the bushes to down their weapons and join the DDR Centres.
“The DDR Centres have done so well to former seperatist fighters, I can cite an example like Kawa Kawa who has been reintegrated in Buea and helping others to quit the struggle,” the governor told the people of Mamfe.
The people on their part, supported the governor by saying that it is time to completely put an end to the crisis.
“It started here, and now it has to end here,” An elite recounted.
The gifts from President Paul Biya falls within the framework of the humanitarian gestures from the Head of State launched during the end of year feasts.
