By TALLA AGHAA CHRISTOPHER
It was all smiles on the faces of over 200 Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Tombel in Kupe -Muanenguba Division, South West Region, as they received the government humanitarian assistance aid from the hands of the Divisional Officer, D.O, Nyam Leonard. The event took place at the esplanade of the Tombel Divisional office amidst tight security.
The items included bags of rice, cartons of cooking oil, sardines, soaps and some toiletries.
Handing over the donation, the D.O for Tombel, Nyam Leonard expressed joy that life is gradually returning to normalcy in his area of command, where many inhabitants in the various villages had fled to other neighbouring villages and towns due to the Anglophone crisis.
He disclosed that he was surprised by the turn out of the population who came for the humanitarian assistance aid initiated by the government to console those affected by the crisis and which he maintained, is their legitimate right to benefit, reason why all IDPs should register and benefit accordingly.
The DO called on those still in the bushes and other towns and villages to return and continue with their normal activities especially as the government is doing everything to solve the issues at stake.
Nyam Leonard recalled that, the Prime Minister Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute recently toured the restive North West and South West Regions with his peace crusading message, being a pointer to the fact that there’s hope in the horizon for a lasting solution to the crisis.
Traditional Rulers present at the occasion who pleaded not to name for fear of victimization, hailed the efforts of the government in making sure that despite the crisis, IDPs are given considerable attention. They disclosed that the suffering of their kin and kiths is beyond imagination and called on the powers that be to go in for the much talked about inclusive, frank and genuine dialogue.
However some of the IDPs, who equally went home with the aid, were very disgruntled, as they complained that they are tired with the humanitarian assistance aid song. They hinted that what is important is for government to solve the current impasse through inclusive dialogue for peace to return. With this, nobody will border about humanitarian aid from government and other goodwill organizations, they held.
It should be recalled that Tombel, a once buoyant Sub Division in Kupe Muanenguba is now a shadow of herself. Villages like Etam, Ebonji, Nyasoso and Mile 20, hosting one of the largest food stuff markets in the Central African Sub Region is now an eyesore. The ongoing crisis has completely scared the inhabitants from staying in these localities.
Frequent clashes between the military and separatist fighters are the order of the day and statistics indicates that most of the fleeing population is now IDPs in Loum, Nkongsamba, Melong, Penja- Njombe, Kumba and Douala.