The CAR Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Martial Beti-Marace, on Friday, June 20, 2014 in Yaounde, chaired the handing over of attestations to the new humanitarian workers.

As part of efforts to tackle the growing humanitarian situation in the East Region created by the influx of Central African Republic, CAR, nationals fleeing the conflict in their country, a local charity has mobilised a group of international volunteers to give a helping hand. The event was patronised by the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya, Synergies Africaines and the Governor of East Region, Samuel Ivaha Diboua.

The ‘Assemblée des Jeunes Francophones pour les Organisations Internationales,’ AJFOI, on Friday, June 20, 2014, in Yaounde, organised a ceremony to hand over attestations to 50 young volunteers who concluded a five-day training on responding to the educational needs of refugee children and children in host communities.

AJFOI’s President, Kassim Ndam Yongno, explained that the team is made of four CAR nationals, a Chadian, one Rwandan and 44 Cameroonians. They will be deployed in eight localities in Lom and Djerem as well as in Kadey Divisions that host CAR refugee camps. For a period of two months, beginning on July 2, 2014, they will teach refugee and host community children Cameroon school syllabus subjects to prepare them for the start of the 2014/2015 school year.

Also speaking at the event that coincided with the 2014 International Refugee Day, CAR’s Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Martial Beti-Marace, called on his country’s refugees in Cameroon not to lose hope. He recounted how after being a refugee for 20 years, he returned home and held several cabinet positions before being appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cameroon. He also cited the example of Jesus Christ who was a refugee in His infancy in Egypt, but today sits at the right hand of His Father in heaven.

Ambassador Beti-Marace commended President Paul Biya and his government for sacrificing so much in welcoming, feeding and training his country’s refugees, most of them having arrived in piteous conditions. He warned the refugees to abide by the laws of Cameroon, saying how much he appreciated the patience of Cameroonian authorities in dealing with some of them who misbehaved. The Envoy warned the public against the activities of some organisations that collect assistance for CAR refugees that never gets to them.