IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, provided 7 tons of aid to refugees of the Central African Republic (CAR), who had no choice but to leave their homes after the massacre, and seek refuge in the Kenzou mobile camp, located on the border of Cameroon. Close to 6 thousand people benefited from the aid.
Muslims living in the Central African Republic (OAC) are continuing to leaving their homes, and are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries as they fear for their lives. However, sometimes they are not lucky enough to escape. Some are captured while trying to run away, while the others are killed that instant. Those who are lucky enough to pass through national borders seek refuge in Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and Cameroon.
However, many difficulties await them over there as well. The first place they settle into turns into a camp. They build themselves a place to stay using their own resources such as cloths or shrubs. Then they battle with hunger.
IHH's emergency relief efforts in Chad and Cameroon
Since the very beginning of these unfortunate events, IHH provided aid to OAC refugees. In 2014, they provided a series of aid to refugees living in Gore and Mbitoye located on the border of Chad’s Central African region and the countries capital, N'djamena.
Within this scope, the IHH teams distributed necessities such as rice, pasta, sugar, salt, tomato paste, hygienic supplies, medicine and clothes. In Ramadan and Qurban, they distributed food packages and Qurban meat. Close to 80 thousand people benefited from the 250 tons of aid distributed.
In 2014, IHH distributed series of help at refugee camps located in Cameroon’s Garaboley and Yakadu region. Within this scope, the IHH teams distributed necessities such as rice, pasta, sugar, salt, tomato paste, hygienic supplies, medicine and clothes. In Ramadan and Qurban, they distributed food packages and Qurban meat. Close to 50 thousand people benefited from the 150 tons of aid distributed.
Once again, IHH is alongside of refugees in Cameroon
At the beginning of 2015, IHH distributed series of help at refugee camps located in Cameroon’s Kenzou region. Within the scope of this aid, the team distributed necessities such as rice, pasta, sugar and oil worth 7 tons to refugee camps located in Kenzou. There are close to 15 thousand people living in Kenzou’s Mbile camp. Close to 6 thousand people benefited from this aid.
Along the side of providing aid, IHH teams met with governors and officials of the villages, which are nearby the campsites. They collected information, about the current situations of the refugees, and took notes on new requirements.
IHH’s West African Officer, Yunus Satilmis stated the following in regards to the current situation; he stated that Mbile and Lolo camps were constructed 1.5 years ago. “Currently, there are close to 15 thousand people living in the Lolo camp, while close to 10 thousand people live in the Mbile camp. These numbers are constantly increasing because the Cameroon government likes to keep all refugees in one place, in order to keep everything under control. This is why they send refugees to these two camps located in Cameroon. Currently, the MB provides food aid once a year to these camp sites. However, this is barely enough for them. This is why officials and those living in these camps were very happy to see us.”
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation will continue to provide aid to refugees who took refuge in Cameroon and other countries.
It is estimated that there is more than 100 thousand Central African refugees in Cameroon. Refugees located in camp sites in Cameroon’s Bertoua, Garaboley, Magganga, Angavi, Fooda and Kenzou region are fighting for their lives. However, more and more people are crossing the border each day.