The voluntary repatriation of 5000 Nigerian refugees living in the Far North began.

The voluntary repatriation of 5000 Nigerian refugees living in the Far North began.

The first phase of the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees in the Far North region began on 08 March 2021, with 342 individuals leaving the Minawao camp for Banki in Borno State, Nigeria.

This was per terms laid out in February by the tripartite commission on voluntary repatriation, consisting of UNHCR, Nigeria and Cameroon, which defined the conditions of return. For the success of the operation, each party played its part.

• UNHCR launched an information campaign to collect and confirm return intentions. All refugees who expressed the desire to return received information sessions on conditions in the areas of return.
• The government of Cameroon ensured the vaccination of small ruminants, poultry, the transport of refugee luggage and the security of the convoy to Banki by elements of the Multinational Joint Force, sector N1.
• The government of Nigeria provided transport buses, an ambulance and a fuel truck.

By 31 March, 2,436 out of 5,000 Nigerian refugees who had confirmed their intentions to return were voluntarily repatriated.

UNHCR Cameroon held its first “Conversation Café” on GBV in the context of forced displacements in Cameroon

On 05 March, UNHCR Cameroon organised the first edition of a “Conversation Café”, an informal space for focused discussions on issues affecting refugees and other persons of concern, aimed at creating a network of individuals from UN agencies, humanitarian NGOs and civil society, as well as government officials, refugees, parliamentarians, students, influencers and academics.

The event brought together refugees, humanitarians and GBV experts who talked about gender-based violence in the context of forced displacement. Discussions were led by a member of parliament, Honourable Johanna Agborntui.