| 22 June 2018 | Correspondent
The United Nations High Commission on Refugees has celebrated the 2018 Refugees Day with the displaced Cameroonian refugees in Ikom local government area of Cross River State.
The ten thousand-capacity Ikom township stadium in the central senatorial districts of Cross-River state, was filled with dignitaries from all walks of life to celebrate with the refugees who are seeking refuge in parts of cross river state arising from the political crisis between the Cameroon authorities and the separatists movement of south-west Cameroon, comprising the Anglo-phone or English speaking Cameroon.
The event featured a novelty football match between the refugees and the host community, solidarity messages among others.
In a message at the event, a representative of the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons, Ayasanya Akitunde said millions of people are displaced from their country due to conflicts and other factors.
He said Nigeria is playing host to about twenty-one thousand refugees from neighboring Cameroon OneRepublic and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved timely to enable the refugees to return home while urging their host communities to continue to give them support in the spirit of humanity.
The UNHCR field officer, Muhammed Nasry said the agency is doing everything within its powers to provide succor for the refugees, migrants and asylum seekers,
He said the world refugee day is a time to recognize the humanity of refugees and called for positive actions from stakeholders that can alleviate the plight of the refugees.
According to Muhammed, getting laws and policies, right is vital, but it is local people that are on the frontline when refugees arrive and whose welcome makes the difference between rejection and inclusion, between despair and hope and between being left behind and building a future.
Other speakers at the event included the head of Ikom Local Government administration, HOLGA, Mr. Julius Adie, the divisional immigration officer, DIO, Amor Austin, the judge of the High Court, Justice Obojor Ogar told the refugees to be law abiding and to fill free to explore all available channels of communication to register their complaints and assured the Cameroonian refugees of adequate security and protection.
The refugees in a presentation by Tabe Karim urged the United Nations to step in fully to resolve the problem in Cameroon to enable return home and continue normal lives.
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