Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

Staff members from the United Nations’ population Fund (UNFPA), Humanitarian Coordination Agency (OCHA), the United Nations children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), have embarked in a four day field trip in the Littoral and West regions of Cameroon. The field mission that took place from October 18 to 22, 2021 was aimed at monitoring and assessing key activities carried-out so far within UNFPA’s humanitarian and life-saving gender-based violence project launched in December 2020 in the North-West, South-West, Littoral and West regions. The project running till April 2022 grants support to vulnerable women and young girls affected by the current Anglophone crisis which has crippled the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. And therefore causing massive influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in neighbouring regions of the country notably in the Littoral and West. UNFPA’s country Representative Siti Batoul Oussein alongside ECHO’s team led by Serge-Tigwende Soubeiga have been at the helm of the delegation of humanitarian staff in various meetings and activities undertaken in the Littoral and West regions. The team’s journey began in Douala with series of in-depth discussions. They met with Regional Delegates from key ministries concerned by the project. The humanitarian team had a clear view on how the project is running and how to fill in the gaps in the next stages. Amongst top officials met in Douala by the team of Siti Batoul Oussein is, Littoral’s Governor, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua who showed a lot of interest in the life-saving project. He took advantage of the meeting to expose the galloping rate of needs of IDPs and portrayed the situation in which many live in host communities of Douala. Yet, with the financial support of the European Union through ECHO, the project has so far brought a lot of positive changes in the lives of many survivors. Many young girls and women affected by the ongoing crisis have benefitted from case management in safe spaces, psychological first aid support, medical as well as mental health care as underscored by UNFPA. The visible side of this project in Douala was witnessed at the Baptist health centre situated in the Mboppi neighbourhood, where dignity kits and COVID-19 items were handed-over. And at the Martin Luther King Junior memorial foundation (LUKMEF) safe space in Bonaberi which welcomes GBV survivors, close to 15 women and young girls were donated goods their economic autonomy. Beatrice, mother of 6 children who has resettled in Douala due to threats of the crisis in the North-West has regained confidence in herself thanks to the project as she said. “Since I came from Bamenda, I have been suffering here in Douala with my 6 children who are fatherless. I lost hope in life but through a sensitization carried-out by LUKMEF which I heard, this is how I came in contact with this centre. When I came here I was followed-up. I have learnt many things like the fabrication of soap. This has helped me to start a petty business for my family. And today with the package received from UNFPA, I thank God. I will start selling fish in the market because they told me apart from rice there is fish in the bags…” Just like Beatrice, many beneficiaries expressed happiness and joy for the goods received officially from the hands of Mrs Siti Batoul and UNICEF’s deputy Representative, Arsene Azandossessi. The UNFPA country Representative seized the opportunity to boost the morals of GBV victims and said much more incentives are underway. “I just met one who is 14 year old pregnant by force, which is very heart-breaking to see. So, seeing the joy and smiles on their faces, means that they went through the support that has been put in place by the project. I mean the psychological and medical support put in place for them to be a group of survivors. They are survivors, they strive to become the women they are. As I was telling them; stay as you are, get strong, those who are pregnant look for services you expect around here and provided by the project, they can refer you to where you can get the medical services or psychological support etc.” She said. In Bafoussam, West region, the humanitarian team carried-out the same exercise at the regional hospital where sets of reproductive health kits were granted. The tireless visitors met with the patron of the region, Governor Awa Fonka Augustin in order to get a grasp on the situation of IDPs and host communities. To end their four day tour, the staff from the UN agencies later on commune with GBV survivors sheltered at the safe space of COMINSUD. Goods were granted to the women and young girls as a move to give them hope and begin a new life in spite of the continuous services rendered by the project. Statistically, LUKMEF has offered services to 587 young girls and women while on its part COMINSUD offered services to 810. In terms of expected results, the project targets among others: 104930 persons to benefit from psychological first aid; 10.000 vulnerable women to benefit from dignity kits and COVID-19 hygiene items; 4503 women to benefit from GBV medical care and reproductive health kits; 5100 persons to benefit from case management in women and girls’ safe spaces Elise Kenimbeni

Parmi les nombreux problèmes que rencontrent au quotidien les personnes déplacées interne au Cameroun  il y a  la non détention d’actes de naissance et de carte nationale d’identité. Depuis plus de deux ans la petite Glory âgée de 8 ans ne peut aller à l’école. Elle n’a pas d’acte de naissance. Sa maman que nous avons nommé Abeng Clara pour des raisons de sécurité n’a également  pas de carte nationale d’identité(CNI). Elle fait partie des nombreuses victimes de violences basées sur le genre qui ont fui la région du Nord-Ouest, où elle a habité durant une trentaine d’années avec son époux et ses trois enfants.  Du fait de la crise sociopolitique qui perdure dans les régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest, Abeng Clara et sa famille se sont réfugiés dans la ville de Bafoussam et son mari quant à lui est allé se  «  chercher » à Yaoundé. Triste et perdue, elle ne sait à quel saint se vouer. Elle dit tenir la situation  grâce à l’appui d’une association bénéficiaire du projet UNFPA/ECHO. Abeng Clara nous a confié que sa fille Glory ne peut aller à l’école car elle ne possède pas d’acte de naissance. Elle n’a aucun document en sa possession, tout a été abandonné à Mbengwi, où elle résidait. La priorité était d’échapper aux séparatistes qui menaçaient  et brulaient les maisons des populations de son village de jour  comme de nuit. La situation de Abeng Clara est celle que vit au quotidien de nombreuses personnes déplacées interne (PDI). Sans acte de naissance beaucoup d’enfants n’ont pas accès à l’école publique ou privée. Les parents qui sont sans CNI ne peuvent être identifiés réellement, ni par les officiels administratifs, ni par certaines associations qui accueillent les PDI. Selon les coordonnateurs de ces associations qui accueillent les PDI, il est souvent très difficile d’identifier leurs cibles n’ayant pas de CNI et ce qui s’avère compliqué durant le partage du matériel de première nécessité, les denrées alimentaires et même pour les assistances psychologiques et médicales qui proviennent des organisations internationales. Conséquences Le problème d’identification des PDI est une plaie béante pour leur intégration et leur dénombrement. Les autorités administratives n’ont pas de données  chiffrées exactes sur le nombre de personnes déplacées interne. La majorité des PDI est très mobile. Ces personnes  refusent  de révéler leurs identités ou encore de se faire identifier pour des raisons de sécurité liées à la peur de subir une présumée répression tel que le soulignent les autorités approchées sur le terrain.  La non identification des PDI est un problème qui fragilise davantage les efforts consentis par le gouvernement et les organismes internationaux qui octroient des fonds pour l’assistance de ces personnes. D’après un responsable d’une délégation régionale, dont l’apport se fait grandement ressentir dans le projet UNFPA/ECHO, ce problème a des conséquences énormes.  Parmi les nombreuses conséquences qu’engendre cette absence d’identification, il y’a la non-scolarisation des enfants. Plusieurs enfants déplacés n’ont pas accès à l’éducation, certains malgré eux ne peuvent se présenter aux concours et examens de fin d’année. Certains n’ont pas pris le chemin de l’école depuis le début de la crise en 2016. Dans les villes voisines de Yaoundé, Douala et Bafoussam, plusieurs enfants sont devenus des vendeurs à la sauvette, ou se livrent à la débauche et vadrouillent dans les rues. En ce qui concerne les jeunes filles, elles sont pour la plupart devenues des ménagères et d’autres des travailleuses de sexe contre leur gré. Et même dans les communautés hôtes certaines sont utilisées en contrepartie de leur hébergement. « Parmi ces déplacées, la majorité sont des femmes actives. Il y’a des adolescentes, des jeunes filles et même des handicapées mais à faible proportion(…) Nous avons des femmes qui sont encore capable de se déplacer d’un point à un autre et vous voyez que leurs besoins sont plus grands que ceux d’une maman qui ne veut que manger et peut être avoir où dormir. Or, une jeune dame a des besoins au-delà tout cela. » « Aux rangs des PDI se retrouvent beaucoup d’infiltrés et même des personnes dont le statut social est bien connu ceci parce que lorsqu’il y’a des formations au bénéfice des PDI certains voient des grosses opportunités en laissant pour compte les cibles principales qui ne peuvent clamer ou faire entendre leurs voix n’ayant pas une carte qui les identifie  comme déplacé…Nous pouvons estimé à près de 75%, les femmes et jeunes filles n’ayant pas de CNI. Elles se débrouillent pour certaines avec des vieux documents. » Affirme un coordonnateur d’association. Notre source indique par ailleurs que certains déplacés sont obligées d’utiliser des  tierces personnes pour des décharges d’argent lorsqu’il ya des sommes qui leurs sont allouées, et parfois c’est sous forme de chantage ou en payant une contrepartie qu’ils reçoivent leurs dus et même, ce sont parfois des montants farfelus qui leur sont remisent par ces intermédiaires. Tout ceci résulte du fait d’absence d’une identification légale. Malgré les nombreuses procédures entreprises jusqu’ici par les responsables de ces associations et organisations à base communautaires, le problème persiste. Ils nous confient qu’afin d’obtenir le certificat d’acte de naissance, précieux sésame dans la région de l’Ouest par exemple, des sommes faramineuses sont demandées aux PDI, qui pourtant vivent dans une indigence totale. Etablir un certificat d’acte de naissance par enfant revient à 15.000Francs CFA, ce qui n’est pas à leur portée et ne respecte pas la loi. Quelles solutions ? Pour pallier ce problème, véritable calvaire des PDI comme l’a indiqué notre source, l’implication du  gouvernement est une urgence. Les personnes déplacées interne doivent être identifiées tout comme les réfugiés à travers des cartes spécifiques. Les autorités peuvent aussi selon ces acteurs de terrain, faciliter l’enregistrement et l’attribution des actes de naissances aux enfants via le Bureau National de l’Etat Civil (BUNEC). L’attribution des cartes aux PDI de tout âge figure aussi parmi les solutions. Avec l’apport  du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF), dont l’intégration avec un nouveau projet est certaine, ce volet pourrait connaitre des avancées à la suite des descentes effectuées sur

With the recent support granted by UNFPA to some 14 GBV survivors who settled in Douala, after running away from the crisis rocking the North-West and South-West Regions of Cameroon, there is hope in the air as they said. “Here in the safe space we live as a family, you can sleep here. Sometimes when I come here and cannot afford to go back home with my baby, I will tell them and they will help me with taxi fare. I got a new house. I thank God and I thank UNFPA. Thanks to LUKMEF and thanks for the support. I will start a petty trade with the 100 kilogrammes bag of flour that I received here because I have been trained by LUKMEF to make cakes. I will later on return to school because I had my GCE Advanced level and I want to study nursing…” Martha said. Martha, aged 21, is one of the 14 Gender-based violence survivors who have benefitted from the support of the United Nations’ Population Fund, UNFPA, through its life-saving project supported by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, ECHO. The young mother of a baby boy of close to 8 months has fled from her home town Kumba in the South-West Region due to continuous threats from separatists groups who once kidnapped her father and was only freed after an exchange of a sweet compensation. With the risk of been kidnap one day as the baby cries when gunshots are sprinkled, she was advised by her father to run away at early hours on a Sunday. Martha was warmly welcomed at the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Foundation, LUKMEF in Douala where she got the necessary support and was referred to a partner health center in Bonamoussadi for the follow-up of her baby. The little money she receives from time to time from her father is not enough to survive in the city of Douala which has an increased standard of living compared to Kumba. Today, Martha says the gloomy episodes of her life are simultaneously fading away thanks to the psychological first aid she received, the timely support granted by UNFPA and her daily discussions at the safe space with other women and girls who have lived bitter adventures in the course of the conflicts plaguing the North-West and South-West Regions. Martha nourishes hopes to return back to school in order to study nursing. Just like Martha, 20-year-old Teclare who is about ending her gestation period shed tears when she received packets of disposable diapers and a carton of vegetable oil as material support. “I didn’t know that there is a place where somebody could attend to us and that someone can easily help me here in Douala. This is because in this Douala for someone to give you only water to drink they will ask you money.” The primiparous who is an orphan fled from Nkwen in the North-West Region and resettled in Douala for some months now with her husband who tried to secure a job as a security agent. Teclare has been striving hard to survive in an environment which she described as hostile and strange to her because she left her home town and her business at the Nkwen market. Teclare heard about the safe space of LUKMEF through one of her neighbours working there. “Since one month that I started coming to this place, many things have changed in my life. With my pregnancy I was unable to go to the hospital because what my husband is doing cannot even take care of me. He is trying to take care of my younger ones to be in school. I’m an orphan of both parents but we are trying to survive. I came here when my pregnancy was almost seven months and from then they started taking care of me and they referred me to a hospital just near here. I made my echography there and since I came across this place I have been feeling myself at home. It is as if I have parents again” she narrated. The beneficiaries of the 18 month life-saving project piloted by UNFPA praised the initiative and requested for its extension. They seized the occasion of an official donation ceremony held on October 19, 2021 to recount their stories, the constant threats and the trauma they went through in their respective areas. Siti Batoul Oussein, UNFPA’s Resident Representative, and other staff members from UNICEF, OCHA and ECHO, the European Union’s humanitarian branch, communed with these GBV survivors in Douala. This was part of field mission held from the 18th to the 22nd of October, 2021 with the aim to monitor and assess key activities carried-out so far within the humanitarian and life-saving gender-based violence project that runs from December 2020 to April 2022 in the North-West, South-West, Littoral and West Regions. Elise Kenimbeni

Contrary to ongoing threats and unhealthy comments, the Ngul Be Tara product of Dr Marlyse Paule Mbezele Peyou has been approved by Cameroon’s government and Nigeria’s national agency for food and drug administration and control (NAFDAC). In order to tackle the covid-19 pandemic that has threaten lives worldwide, several scientists came-out with a number of solutions and responses that will help to save the population. In Cameroon, one of these discoveries revealed to the public was the healing potion of Dr Marlyse Paule Mbezele Peyou Ndi-Samba. The healing COVID-19 potion coined in the ewondo dialet: “Ngul Be Tara”, meaning the power of ancestors is among the miraculous traditional potions which have save lives in Cameroon during the outbreak of the pandemic. The astute scientist and biochemistry lecturer working with the faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences of the University of Yaounde I has so far brought hope in the lives of many who were affected by the pandemic and has made the pride of her home country, Cameroon. With its positive records, government has approved the local sale of the Ngul Be Tara by granting a 5 year license to the team of Dr Marlyse Paule Mbezele Peyou. In a correspondence addressed to the leader of the RIRCO consortium on September 30, 2021, public health minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie officially informed that the Ngul Be Tara kit, the Netko, Binther and Immuno boost were approved on the market. In Nigeria, esteem was granted earlier to the product of the biochemist. A four year license was granted to the RIRCO consortium by thenational agency for food and drug administration and control (NAFDAC). Inspite of all these recognitions and approval, the indigenous coronavirus product has been degraded, and besides, grudges have been nursed against Dr Peyou, the brainbox behind the miraculous product. She has been on the grill for the past months. On her part, Dr Marlyse Paule Peyou has in an open letter castigated all her detractors. She said: “To the nutcases, destroyers, jealous, seekers of glory … I have already passed my knowledge on to several students who make the Ngul be Tara. So attack me, it won’t change that. We are many. I’m not in any political party, I don’t know how to play politics, I don’t know how to be a minister, I never told anyone that I want to be a minister, because I can make an impact in the laboratory. My dream is to have a laboratory as powerful as those in which I was trained in France and the United States of America. For those who wish to see me in Business, I say thank you for your trust. I beg you just to wish that laboratories which can manufacture antidotes, effective and safe vaccines or other powerful drugs are installed in all African Universities, worthy of the name, especially in all the departments of biochemistry. That all laboratories of all the technical sectors be equipped and maintained (…).” Dr Peyou Marlyse Ndi, PHD holder in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Washington State University, USA and a Master II in Public Health from France’s université de Loraine, ESP de Nancy has challenged all her detractors to invent quality products for the well-being of the people instead of unfruitful fighting. “For these destructive networks that employ our crazy apprentice negro brothers of traitorous house: we are waiting for you on the ground to see what you invent for African posterity!!! In return, we always hit back no matter how long it takes, and wherever the perpetrators are. It is a promise. For your guidance, half of the equipment that makes the Ngul be Tara was donated by an American university several years ago. The Ngul be Tara manufacturing team also includes people from many nations of the world including young Americans! The team is of course led by your humble Cameroonian servant that I am. In the meantime, Ngul be Tara, the powerful anticovid-19 continues to prevent and eradicate COVD-19 across the world, whatever the variant, whether vaccinated or not, Ngul be Tara does not discriminate, he helps every human being even enemies who consume it in secret. Jealousy has not yet devoured you. You will lose more than your sleep!” She added. In a meantime, Dr Peyou and team have embarked on the project to plant at least a million fruit trees and medicinal plants by 2025, another challenge to improve traditional researches. Registered in 2012 in Cameroon, Reece international Research consortium (RIRCO) works in close collaboration with key ministries. Elise Kenimbeni