The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), at the weekend, delivered 1,460 bags of assorted food items on behalf of the Federal Government for the feeding of about 80,709 Nigerian refugees, mostly from Borno State, in the Republic of Cameroun. The agency told the IDPs that they would be returning to Nigeria very soon.

The Nigerians who were displaced by Boko Haram insurgents are taking shelter in Minawao and other locations in the far north region of Cameroun.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore SBB Muhammad, handed over the items to officials of Cameroun for onward presentation to the United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) which has been managing the camp. He said the items were meant to provide succor to the Nigerian refugees.

In his message, the Director General said NEMA will continue to liaise with the Government of the Republic of Cameroun to ensure that all Nigeria refugees are living in good condition. He appealed to youths in the camps to desist from using drugs and urged them to always be of good character and be good ambassadors of our country. Some youths in the camp were recently arrested for drug use.

He assured the refugees that the Nigerian Government has not forgotten them and is doing everything possible to evacuate them back to their respective states.  He   thanked the Republic of Cameroun, INGOs and UNHCR on behalf of the Federal Government for hosting and providing them with protection.

Speaking through an interpreter, an official of the Government of Cameroun who received the items, Mrs Menguene Marie, appreciated the Nigerian government for providing succour to its citizens and also thanked the government of Cameroun for its support to the Nigerians.

Appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian Government, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Refugees, Mr. Asshigar Mohd from Bama local government said “We have been in Minawao camp for three years, we do have regular feeding,  have school and hospital, but we want leaders of our communities back home to visit us.” He appealed to the Nigerian Government to repatriate them  back to their places in Borno State since peace has returned in most of the communities.

The items delivered include 650 bags of rice, 300 bags of Guinea corn, 200 bags of Millet, 150 bags of Beans, 10 bags of Ground nut, 50 bags of flour, 50 bags of sugar and 50 bags of salt. Others include 100 cartons of tinned tomato, 50 cartons of Maggi Cubes, 150 cartons of spaghetti, 150 cartons of bath soap and 50 cartons of vegetable oil.