Mamfe : Returning Refugees, IDPs Receive President Paul Biya’s Gifts

Gifts from the Head of State and President of the Republic, Paul Biya, destined for returning refugees from Nigeria and other internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are victims of the current Anglophone crisis in Cameroon have been officially handed to the beneficiaries in Mamfe, headquarters of Manyu Division in the South West Region.

The Head of State’s envoy to Mamfe who is also the South West Regional Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, made the trip to Manyu’s Divisional chief town last 7 January, 2021, to supervise the distribution of the gifts to rightful recipients. He was accompanied to Mamfe by the new President of the South West Regional House of Assembly, Bakoma Elango Zacheus, and his Vice who is also Chair of the Regional House of Chiefs, Chief Atem Bisong Ebako. As the personalities performed the actual handing of the gifts, the recipients expressed their happiness in tears of joy sending hearted words of thanks to the donor, President Paul Biya.

At the Mamfe ceremonial grounds, some 600 parcels of gifts were displayed with each package including tin fish, rice, detergents, blankets, buckets, cooking oil, toiletry kits, beds for returning refugees, sugar, mosquito bed nets, and kitchen utensils, The items enumerated by the acting Director of Civil Protection at the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Tchuente Gilbert, were joyously received by apparently very needy IDPs and refugees some of whom were carrying babies.

As explained by the authorities, the gifts were conceived as basic necessities for human beings in desperate situations. Receivers were made to sign discharge forms for their parcels for identification and proper accountability.

Addressing the IDPs and returning refugees, the Governor of the Region appealed to all displaced persons to return to their villages and welcome the reconstruction plan launched by the Head of State. He also called on those fighters still hiding in the bushes with arms to follow the footsteps of their peers like Kawa Kawa to down their guns and regain normal life. “Everyone can see for themselves that those who repented are well protected and living like normal citizens in the demobilization and rehabilitating centres, the Governor said. “If the population is not back home who will identify and receive the desired development projects instruct...