The Nigerian Red Cross Society in Akwa Ibom State in south-eastern Nigeria says it is catering for 7,614 people displaced by the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroon.

Justice Edemekong Edemekong, the Akwa Ibom branch Chairman of the society, said on Friday in Uyo, about 640km from Abuja during a courtesy visit to the State Chief Judge, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua that the society, through the assistance of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), created five camps for the returnees.

“We had a challenge of resettling and providing for these returnees, and the IFRC came to our aid,” Edemekong said.

He said that the society provided VIP latrines, boreholes, bedding and cooking utensils for the displaced persons.

In his response, Ntem-Isua expressed regrets that no shelter was built in Akwa Ibom for the Bakassi returnees by the Federal Government.

“This is even when Bakassi was administered as part of the then Cross River State, which is now Akwa Ibom State.”

The chief judge promised to liaise with the state government to support the humanitarian activities of the Red Cross.

The visit was part of week-long activities, which started on May 4, to mark the 2010 World Red Cross Day celebrations in the state.

The highlights of the visit included an award of excellence in service by the Akwa Ibom branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society to the chief judge.

Source African Press Agency

African News from NetNewsPublisher.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Nigeria Government Formally Condemns Child Witch Syndrome (netnewspublisher.com)
• Nigerian Women’s Group Backs Campaign Against Child Witchcraft Syndrome (netnewspublisher.com)