UNHCR begins verification of 18k Cameroonian refugees in Cross River

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has started verification of 18,000 Cameroonian refugees in Calabar, Cross River state capital.

The UN agency said the exercise would include the renewal of identity cards of refugees for easy identification.

The refugees who are camped in different parts of the state were asked to assemble in Calabar with relevant documents for the exercise.

According to UNHCR, the verification was to improve data on the economic capacities of the refugees and identify those with specific needs and extremely vulnerable persons.

The organisation said the registration would help it provide interventions, including food assistance, non-food items and livelihood support to the refugees.

Udama Stephen, a Red Cross Society psychiatric nurse, told journalists that the 18,000 refugees who would partake in the exercise will receive free medical treatment.

“What we do here is also basically primary healthcare, we deal with common sicknesses like malaria, typhoid, ulcer, cold, body pains and so on, but if it is beyond the primary level, we refer them to a more complex health facility,” Udama said.

“Some of them are sick because they lack access to healthcare, some are physically challenged and the majority of them don’t have jobs, so UNHCR must take care of their basic needs which include their health needs.

“Others include their nutrition, financial support and empowerment for the less privileged, basically for Cameroonian refugees in Cross River.”

Tamfu Theodoni, a 35-year-old refugee, from northwest Cameroon, narrated why he decided to flee to Nigeria.

“I was a university campus driver but had to flee to Nigeria after my cousin who was also a driver was shot in the head by Cameroonian soldiers,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“I fled to Nigeria to find succour, I pray for peace and unity between the Francophone and Anglophone Cameroonians.”