As the crisis persist, the situation of displaced persons become deplorable, with women and children suffering most. These persons are no longer independent, but dependent on other host for survival. Chrapa, Center For Human Rights and Peace advocacy, decides to look into the situation of IDPs while sourcing for means to assist them.
Though there are famillies willing to shelter these persons running from crisis hit areas, in the city of Bamenda where gunshots and killings are still recorded or out of town, some of them have shared stories of going through torture, a situation that Chrapa is willing to adress.
"I intend to raise awareness, make sure that perpetrators are called to order and punished .for those who would be called to order and they understand then we can talk about what we can do to compensate the victim and for those who are head strong we would follow up for the law should take it's course
Chongsi Joseph, CEO of Center For Human Rights and Peace advocacy - Chrapa, a non-profit making organization in Bamenda, has decided to make efforts to identify IDPs, register them and ensure that they get the necessary help, after need assessment must have been done.
"We are identifying victims, we have trained people who can help in identification and refer to us. We follow up by giving direct support to the victims; provide food items, civil documentations which many of them lack due to burninga that have occurred, giving out vocational training, identifying their families and reinserting them not leaving out legal support".
The situation in Northwest since 2016 and at the time of this report, the crisis has been on high and low levels, with fallouts of the course described as "tears provoking" by Chongsi Joseph, who thinks that because of the deplorable situation more people have become more vulnerable.
These thoughts have brought few journalists together round a table discussion over a cup of coffee/tea to see how these displaced persons can get assistance.
"...Each time someone is taken away from his habitat, he or she becomes vulnerable, anything can happen. This is a situation, there are people who are sleeping on streets and other places where will find a small home with 10 people sleeping on the floor. This goes beyond trafficking, it's an aspect of torture".
Aside other help that come from some other NGOs to these IDPs, the government has also to an extent reached out to these internally displaced persons in the Northwest region through Minister Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of territorial administration. Yet there are stories that say, most of these items don't reach those the things are destined for.
By Ndefru Melanie
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