The Cameroonian football star Alexandre Song visited different refugee Camps in the East and Adamawa regions of Cameroon, from 03 to 06 June 2019, to meet with Central Africans who had sought refuge in the country.
By the side of these UNHCR’s persons of concern in the Borgop, Gado and Lolo camps. The sportsman had the opportunity of witnessing first-hand the challenges they face on a daily basis, and having conversations with the most vulnerable of them all.
Particularly touched by the issue of early pregnancies and marriages, Alexandre Song made a vibrant plea to adults, calling on them “not to let anyone steal the childhood of [our] children.”
Visiting the schools, health centres, with partner NGOs and local authorities, he equally took time to have discussions with the people who in their day-to-day undertakings, ensure the utmost best in assisting the refugee population.
For some months now, Alexandre Song, has placed himself and his popularity at the service of refugees by becoming “UNHCR High Profile Supporter”. Since the beginning of the year, he equally visited urban refugees living in Yaounde and Douala, while waiting for the opportunity to be able to pay a visit to Nigerian refugees in the Far North region of Cameroon.
More than 280,000 Central African Refugees have sought refuge in Cameroon, mainly in the country’s East and Adamawa regions, where the drastic reduction in funding seriously limits the work of humanitarian actors.
In total, Cameroon is host to close to 400,000 refugees with the majority of them coming from the Central African Republic and Nigeria, still grappling with increasing violence.
From UNHCR Cameroon
