World Refugee Day: UNHCR organises concert to raise awareness, celebrate resilience of refugees.

According to organisers, the aim of the advocacy concert was to raise awareness about the current challenges of refugees. 

The concert was part of commemorative activities to mark this year’s World Refugee Day on June 20. 

This year’s edition is celebrated under the theme: “Solidarity with refugees”. 

The advocacy concert featured a live performance by renowned jazz artist and instrumentalist, Kayou, and his band. 

There was also a joint presentation by a refugee from the Central African Republic, Ado Christ with Kayou and an exhibition showcasing and providing insights into the art work done by refugees in Cameroon.

In his welcome address, the Deputy Representative of the UNHCR, Cesar Mbav Tshilombo, stressed that the UNHCR was more than ever determined to offer opportunities to enable refugees to become independent and contribute to the economy of their host country, Cameroon. 

Tshilombo added that the advocacy concert was an occasion to celebrate the strength of the refugees because despite their current situation they are not giving up. 

He pointed out that “they still believe that although they have lost everything but they did not lose their humanity because they are still humans. And music is the way to celebrate this humanity”. 

The UNHCR official added that: “Music is universal and does not have boundaries. It is reminding us that are the people of the world and not a people from a country”. 

He also explained that: “As you know a refugee is somebody who has left his country because of the threat of persecution and fears to be killed or the threat for dead that is why they ran away from his or her country. And then to take this decision to leave your country and go to another location is not easy. So, that is why are celebrating with music”. 

UNHCR lauds gov’t

The UNHCR Deputy Representative hailed the government for implementing a robust protection framework for the integration of refugees since 2005. 

Tshilombo stated that the government has through laws and degrees, ensured that refugees and nationals enjoy the same rights. 

He said refugees in the country can also apply for a resident permit, permanent residency and naturalisation. 

According to Tshilombo, this demonstrates the interest and the commitment of the government and people of Cameroon to help refugees to find solutions to their needs. 

“In Cameroon, we say thank you to donors and the government of Cameroon. The law for refugees in Cameroon is giving refugees the same rights as a national. So, the possibility to integrate or include the refugee in socio-economic activities is quiet there. What is missing now is the financial means to bring them to self-reliance,” Tshilombo told reporters. 

He added that: “The legal framework in Cameroon is quite very good. There is no threat for refugees and their lives. Cameroonians are accepting refugees. We say thank you to the government and thank you to the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, for keeping this environment for the protection of refugees”. 

Enter CAR refugee 

Speaking earlier, one of the refugees from the Central African Republic, CAR, Marallah Sheila, thanked the Cameroonian community for their constant support. 

Marallah who fled the war in CAR with her family, and has been in Cameroon since 2008, explained that she has been trying to adapt to the environment. 

Quizzed on her intentions to return home one day, Marallah said that: “It is a sad story. I have good memories of my time in CAR. If everything returns to normalcy, I intend to go back. But I am not thinking of that for now”. 

It is worth mentioning that as of April 30, 2024, Cameroon hosts 482,000 refugees and asylum seekers. 99% of these cases, we gathered, were Central African refugees.

They are located in the Eastern, Adamawa and Northen borders of the country. The remaining 1% were Nigerian refugee in the Far North Region. 

There are also around 3,000 refugees of various nationalities living in urban centres within the country. 

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3145 of Friday June 21, 2024