Cameroonian Refugees in Cross River State, Nigeria
David Ntui stands holding his baby grand-daughter next to his daughter Lucia in Mfamiyen village, Akankpa local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria on April 13, 2018. His family is being hosted in the village after fleeing violence in their village in Cameroon in November, 2017. They spent 3 days walking through the forest before they crossed the border into Nigeria. David says, "We came here because of the fighting, I carried Lucia on my back through the forest because she is disabled and can't walk properly. During four days we sheltered in the forest. There was nothing to eat except some nuts. We’ve been here now for 5 months. I’d like to go the camp because here I am a burden on the host family we are staying with." David's son Akingbe tripped in the forest and broke his left arm while they were fleeing.
Cameroonians are being hosted in Nigerian villages, many of whom fled across the border because of reported violence inflicted by Cameroonian government security forces on civilians that are suspected of sympathizing or being actively engaged in the secession movement of Southern Cameroons from the nation of Cameroon, led by the separatists group Ambazonia . They are demanding a separate state from French speaking Cameroon. Violence reached a peak in October and November, 2017 when many of the Cameroonians interviewed in the villages between the Nigerian town of Calabar and the border had fled their homes into the bush before eventually crossing over into Nigeria and seeking shelter in villages there.Two weeks previously, the Nigerian government granted registered Cameroonian individuals from the english speaking province refugee status. Once registered by UNHCR they will have freedom of movement within Nigeria for three years. With refugee status they will need to move at least 50km from the border into designated camps. As a partner of UNHCR, Caritas's role is to undertake protection monitoring; the team is conducting baseline & needs assessments within each village on a road that leads from the Nigeria/Cameroon border to the town of Calabar, Nigeria. They are gathering data on demographics, gender, age of the Cameroonians that will be utilized for the upcoming distribution of food and non food items by Caritas within the villages. They also ask the civilians what their most urgent needs which include access to clean drinking water, food, shelter, clothing, health services and schooling for children.
Cameroonian Refugees in Cross River State, Nigeria
David Ntui stands holding his baby grand-daughter next to his daughter Lucia in Mfamiyen village, Akankpa local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria on April 13, 2018. His family is being hosted in the village after fleeing violence in their village in Cameroon in November, 2017. They spent 3 days walking through the forest before they crossed the border into Nigeria. David says, "We came here because of the fighting, I carried Lucia on my back through the forest because she is disabled and can't walk properly. During four days we sheltered in the forest. There was nothing to eat except some nuts. We’ve been here now for 5 months. I’d like to go the camp because here I am a burden on the host family we are staying with." David's son Akingbe tripped in the forest and broke his left arm while they were fleeing.
Cameroonians are being hosted in Nigerian villages, many of whom fled across the border because of reported violence inflicted by Cameroonian government security forces on civilians that are suspected of sympathizing or being actively engaged in the secession movement of Southern Cameroons from the nation of Cameroon, led by the separatists group Ambazonia . They are demanding a separate state from French speaking Cameroon. Violence reached a peak in October and November, 2017 when many of the Cameroonians interviewed in the villages between the Nigerian town of Calabar and the border had fled their homes into the bush before eventually crossing over into Nigeria and seeking shelter in villages there.Two weeks previously, the Nigerian government granted registered Cameroonian individuals from the english speaking province refugee status. Once registered by UNHCR they will have freedom of movement within Nigeria for three years. With refugee status they will need to move at least 50km from the border into designated camps. As a partner of UNHCR, Caritas's role is to undertake protection monitoring; the team is conducting baseline & needs assessments within each village on a road that leads from the Nigeria/Cameroon border to the town of Calabar, Nigeria. They are gathering data on demographics, gender, age of the Cameroonians that will be utilized for the upcoming distribution of food and non food items by Caritas within the villages. They also ask the civilians what their most urgent needs which include access to clean drinking water, food, shelter, clothing, health services and schooling for children.