The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR says, it will prevail on the Cameroonian authorities to quickly resolve the internal crisis in its Northern Province to enable its citizen’s currently taking refuge in Nigeria return back to their country immediately. The Representative of UNHCR in Nigeria and Ecowas, Antonio Jose Canhandula gave this indication when he led a team of the Agency to the two refugee camps set up by Benue State Government for the Cameroonian refugees in Abande, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State in North Central Nigeria.
The UNHCR representative was on a fact-finding mission to Benue state, North Central Nigeria and Cross River state, South-South Nigeria, where he interacted with refugees in the area.
The UN High Commissioner explained that the visit was to assess the humanitarian condition of the refugees and to reinforce corporation with the government of Benue State and establish contact with stakeholders involved in emergency situations to improve the living condition of the victims.
He lamented the constraints by Benue State Government to provide humanitarian aid to the over 10 thousand Cameroonian refugees whose numbers multiply daily and called for immediate intervention from UNHCR and other Humanitarian Organisations.
Benue State has been plagued with communal clashes with herdsmen and farmers leading to several deaths.