Cameroonian Refugees in Cross River State, Nigeria
Richard carries a container on his containing water filled up at a small stream in Nyaje village, Akankpa local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria on April 14, 2018. The stream is the only source of water for the entire village. The village is hosting hundreds of Cameroonians and one of the major concerns for everybody is access to clean drinking water, especially now with the influx of people.
Collins, 24 years old, from Babong, Cameroon (not pictured) says, ““There is now less water to share around in the village with the influx of Cameroonians. There is not too much tension though. Sometimes there are 15 of us hosted in a household. They are not collecting rent which is very generous, the hard part is feeding everybody. Also, we are missing out on education as some of us left school. My three younger siblings were pulled out of school. The soldiers were killing young men like me, they would arrive and call a village meeting. They would then start arresting us, without even questioning us. Then they would take them (young men) away, usually we wouldn’t see them again. I have six friends that were taken between February - March, 2018. I don’t know what’s happened to them. We arrived in October 2017, there was serious heat then with soldiers coming into the villages. That’s why so many people fled. I was studying electrical engineering in Cameroon and almost obtained my national diploma so I wish to complete these studies. If the situation calms down in Cameroon I want to go back, otherwise I prefer to stay here and complete my studies.”
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
Richard carries a container on his containing water filled up at a small stream in Nyaje village, Akankpa local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria on April 14, 2018. The stream is the only source of water for the entire village. The village is hosting hundreds of Cameroonians and one of the major concerns for everybody is access to clean drinking water, especially now with the influx of people.
Collins, 24 years old, from Babong, Cameroon (not pictured) says, ““There is now less water to share around in the village with the influx of Cameroonians. There is not too much tension though. Sometimes there are 15 of us hosted in a household. They are not collecting rent which is very generous, the hard part is feeding everybody. Also, we are missing out on education as some of us left school. My three younger siblings were pulled out of school. The soldiers were killing young men like me, they would arrive and call a village meeting. They would then start arresting us, without even questioning us. Then they would take them (young men) away, usually we wouldn’t see them again. I have six friends that were taken between February - March, 2018. I don’t know what’s happened to them. We arrived in October 2017, there was serious heat then with soldiers coming into the villages. That’s why so many people fled. I was studying electrical engineering in Cameroon and almost obtained my national diploma so I wish to complete these studies. If the situation calms down in Cameroon I want to go back, otherwise I prefer to stay here and complete my studies.”
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.