September 03, (THEWILL) – A non-profit organisation, Save the Children International (SCI), has donated food and non-food items worth millions of Naira to over 60 households comprising more than 600 persons in Cross River State.
The gesture was part of the activities to mark this year’s Humanitarian Day celebration and the beneficiaries were largely from the refugee camp located at Ukende Refugee settlement in Ogoja, Cross River State.
The Field Operations Manager (FOM), SCI, Mr. Oluseyi Abejide, said the Humanitarian Day recognises the efforts and sacrifices of all humanitarian actors.
Abejide, represented by Education in Emergency Officer, Mr Oyeniyi Omopariola, said the aim of the organisation was to ensure that they gave a sense of belonging to everyone going through one crisis or the other and the Cameroonian refugees living in Ukende were not left out.
“Having recognised some of the challenges and the struggles of the refugees we decided to package some tokens to be distributed to 64 households, who are primarily foster parents giving care to the children, who were separated from their parents as a result of the crisis. These are mainly the target of these gift items today.
“SCI has two main sectors here in Ogoga. First is the water, sanitation, hygiene; department sector that ensures that the refugees have access to potable water and good toilet facilities.
“The other sector is the child protection department, which identifies children that are at risk of sexual abuse in all forms and places them in child-friendly spaces and ensures that children, who have gone through trauma, are able to gather in the evenings and learn different skills just to get over their trauma,” he said.
SCI, he added, partners with some humanitarian actors in other organisations to provide refugees case management services and psychosocial support and also render education services.
“We identify children that are out of school and provide them access to education no matter their background, gender or disability status. We have arranged them in different schools.
“We construct learning spaces, school uniforms and scholastic services in general, not only in Ogoja but in other LGAs like Obanliku, Boki, Ikom and Entangbe in Venue,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of Partners Table, Mr. Nne Franklin, said they were commemorating World Humanitarian Day not just to honour humanitarian actors for the contributions they have made so far for humanity but to also celebrate the refugees.
He averred that humanity is very important and they consider people first and “today we’re celebrating World Humanitarian Day and that would not be possible without the displaced persons”
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Odu Simon, who has 12 children under his care, lauded SCI for the gesture, noting that he understands that times were really hard but Save the Children International still found a way to reach out to them.
The SCI is the world’s leading Independent organisation for children, which works in over 100 countries. They strive to ensure that every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
