CHRI Steps Up Help To Victims of the Humanitarian crisis in Cameroon

By Boris Esono (Buea-Cameroon) The Cameroon Humanitarian Relief Initiative, CHRI, a US 501(c) (3) public charity founded in April 2018, works to bring emergency humanitarian relief to affected persons of the ongoing crisis focusing on basic needs such as food, sanitation, water, and  medical supplies. CHRI is also advocating for a speedy resolution of the crisis. In a November publication, CHRI expressed deep gratitude to their growing list of donors and volunteers who have helped in accomplishing many project. Emergency pregnancy and motherhood supplies for 100 internally displaced women in Cameroon (disbursement to Caritas in process), thirteen biweekly supplies to Anglophone political prisoners since May 2018, to Ikom Central, Nigeria in May 2018 with food and sanitary supplies reaching over 900 refugees. CHRI strongly believes every effort should be urgently undertaking by the international community to help resolve the Anglophone crisis and armed conflict in order to end the senseless loss of lives and human sufferings. “A public event entitled the Cameroon conundrum” which was planned for November 8^th, 2018 in Birmingham was postponed on the request of the US State Department…. We are working with the Institute for Human Rights to reschedule this event to continue to bring attention to this crisis” the statement read. “CHRI has also partnered with Caritas Kumba (a church-affiliated non-profit in Cameroon) to provide emergency motherhood and childbirth assistance to 100 pregnant IDPs at a cost of $4000. The next outreach to refugees in Nigeria will be to the Bakassi local government area where there has been a recent influx of refugees due to the escalating conflict after the October 7 presidential election in Cameroon”. [caption id="attachment_54464" align="alignleft" width="960"] Anglophone refugees in Ikom in line to receive donated food items[/caption] The organization is also calling on potential donors to come in an assist so as to provide the basic necessities needed by the displaced. “….The unmet needs are vast and the opportunity to do more is great…. All funds donated are used to support people affected by the conflict. $10 can provide one weeks’ worth of essential food for a refugee”. [caption id="attachment_54465" align="alignleft" width="960"] CHRI efforts have reached even to detainees at the Kondengui maximum security prison in Yaounde[/caption] The Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West Regions started in 2016 and has slowly degenerated in to a full-fledge armed conflict. According to the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, over 4,000 deaths have been witnessed with the figure rising daily. An estimated 500,000 or more people are either internally displaced persons in Cameroon or refugees in neighboring Nigeria. The UN has declared a humanitarian crisis while some fear another Rwandan genocide.