1,000 Refugees Offered Gifts in Douala

In prelude to the 12th edition of the International Day for Refugees on June 20, several refugees in Douala have received gifts from a faith-based group, the Living Christ Ministries (LCM). The event held at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Douala on June 14.

Some 40 bales of second hand clothes were given them, including rice, soap, and mineral water, all valued at FCFA 3 million. The donations saw the collaboration of the Collective of Douala Refugees (CDR), various congregations of the Living Christ Ministries, the bi-monthly newspaper, Intégration as well as the UNHCR.

"The gifts rekindle hope in refugees, especially asylum seekers," said Rev. Pastor Jonathan Stéphane Din, Overseer of the Living Christ Ministries who doubles as the president of the self-help group. "Refugees have to feel at ease wherever they find themselves, to feel loved and protected not only by the refugee arm of the United Nations and God, but also by citizens who show hospitality to them and receive them as they are," he explained.

According to a recent survey by the group, refugees in the region live in precarious conditions, coupled with other social hurdles that have made many to lose enthusiasm for work. Most Central African immigrants face challenging health situations due to malnutrition. Jean Louis Kalema, President of the Collective of Douala Refugees, said the gifts translate the goodwill of the Cameroonian people and the international community to give them hope again. He called on the authorities to eliminate hurdles like discrimination in employment by some employers and the problem of withdrawing money from banks.

The day started with a football match that pitched refugees against LCM-CIG at the Paul Soppo Priso Stadium in Bonapriso. Since its creation, the group has been fighting against clandestine emigration, prostitution, the proliferation of sexually transmissible infections by helping beneficiaries to engage in small income-generating activities.