UNHCR Disburses N7.9 M To IDPs In Bakassi/Akpabuyo Refugee Camps

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By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar.
The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has commenced the disbursement of financial grant/empowerment scheme to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi and Akpabuyo refugee camps in Cross River state.
Under the scheme, 139 persons have been pencilled to benefit from the 50,000 Naira cash grant to enable them to into different kind of businesses.
Already, 200 farmers were trained last year and will soon be provided with farming implements.
Disbursing the funds on behalf of RHEMA care  in collaboration with UNHCR at Akwa Ikot Eyo Edem camp, the Programme Manager RHEMA Care, Mr. Lucky Ajuzie, said the gesture was to compliment government effort in trying to sustain the internally displaced persons in Cross he two refugee camps.
According to him, the project tagged  “sustainable livelihood and economic empowerment of Bakassi/Akpabuyo Returnees(seeds project).
RHEMA Care, he said has been working with the donor agency in the rehabilitation of the Bakassi/Akpabuyo refugees in the state and is committed to ensuring that their welfare and capacity building is given priority attention it deserves.
He said RHEMA care last year trained and assisted 200 farmers in no h camps and has concluded plans to provide with with agro farms inputs
The organisation had been monitoring the farmers and had evaluated them as having performed well.
Ajuzie commended the efforts of the donor agency as well as the state government and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant so as to attract more assistance in future
He appealed to the financial institution that is managing the funds (Ekondo Microfinance bank) to ensure strict compliance before clearing any cheque to avoid impersonation.
Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner Ministry of International Development Cooperation Hon Francis Ettah, represented by Mr. Francis Ejim, director of Empowerment said that the state government is committed to the welfare of the refugees in the state.
The state government, he said is doing everything possible yo ensure that it reduces the sufferings of the refugees within its limited resources.
Earlier, the commissioner for Housing, Hon Edem Okokon Effiom lauded the state government for collaborating with UNHCR and RHEMA Care to attract this grant for the IDPs in the state.
The state government is committed to the rehabilitation of then refugees as efforts are been put in place towards the building of a 300 housing units for them in the interim.
The event took place at Ekpri Obuton in Bakassi and Akwa into Eyo Edem in Akpabuyo local government areas of the state.

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