Statement by H.E. Paul Biya at the
Leaders Summit on Refugees, held on September 20, 2016 under the
initiative of President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the 71st
Session of the UN General Assembly.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
The President of the United States of America,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
The Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Permit me, first and foremost, to add my
voice to those of previous speakers to thank President Barack Obama and
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for their welcome initiative to convene
this summit.
The refugee issue, as we all know, is
one of the major challenges of our century. I will spare you the
statistics which have already been mentioned here, and which show that
the problem is serious. Given the magnitude of this human tragedy which
pricks our collective conscience, we have a historic responsibility,
namely to take action. My country will not shirk that responsibility.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
True to its tradition of hospitality and
solidarity, and by virtue of its stability, Cameroon is a haven for
people seeking peace and safe refuge.
To date, my country hosts more than 350
000 refugees of different nationalities. To cope with this influx, my
Government has taken measures to provide decent living conditions for
them. In recent years, refugee camps have been set up in collaboration
with the UNHCR to settle Nigerian refugees fleeing the atrocities of the
Boko Haram sect, and those from the Central African Republic faced with
political instability. Minawao Camp alone, for instance, hosts over 80
000 Nigerian refugees.
At these reception sites, the refugees
enjoy basic social services provided by the Cameroon Government,
friendly countries, the UNHCR and humanitarian organizations. Facilities
are offered, particularly in education, at all levels.
Healthwise, the Cameroon Government
recently signed a framework agreement with the UNHCR to jointly provide
care to refugees in our local hospitals.
Regarding protection, measures have been taken to issue secured identity cards to persons eligible for refugee status.
Despite the huge financial impact of
implementing these measures, we will continue with and increase our
assistance to refugees and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in
Cameroon’s Far-North Region, who are also fleeing the atrocities of the
Boko Haram terrorist organization.
At this juncture, I would like to appeal
for increased international community support to countries, which like
Cameroon, are hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees on their
territories.
Also, let me draw the attention of the
distinguished personalities here present to the situation of some areas
of my country which are ravaged by terrorism, and where reconstruction
will require substantial resources. Such is the price to pay for the
resettlement of the affected people.
I would like to conclude with acknowledgements.
My very sincere thanks go to all friendly countries for their constant support to our fight against terrorism.
We thank them as well as International
organizations and civil society. We particularly appreciate their
support for our determination to provide to persons in distress,
dignified reception and living conditions, and to their children, access
to education.
Thank you.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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