The Governor of the North West Region, Adolph Lele Lafrique has urged Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs to uphold humanitarian principles and reinforce collaboration with the state in carrying out humanitarian Intervention. He was speaking this March 30, during a meeting that brought together administrators and representatives of NGOs in Bamenda.

North West Governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique

“The aim of this meeting was to reinforce collaboration with NGOs and other international organisations that have been authorised by the state in relieving the pains of the IDPs and vulnerable population as a result of the crisis” North West Governor remarked.

The Governor while chairing the meeting, frowned at NGOs that try to turn the population against the state. “Some NGOs have asked people not to receive government assistance… Some are using the social media to fuel the crisis”. He regretted.

In a presentation by the Head of Sub Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Iiham Moussa, over 4.7 million Cameroonians are in need of humanitarian assistance and 2.7 million of them are targeted.

OCHA Head of Sub Office, North West

In the North West Region, Iiham Moussa explained that 779 thousand people are in need and OCHA is targeting 634 thousand people with priority being Mezam, Donga Mantung and Bui that carry 63% of the total needy population.

To the OCHA regional coordinator, focus is on the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. “We are here to try to meet the most urgent needs of the population while focusing on the humanitarian principles”. She told the press after the meeting.

Present during the meeting were some Regional Delegates who insisted on the need for NGOs to effectively communicate their activities with them when their sectors are involved to help in the smooth execution and realisation of their intervention.

Heads of Security Services in the region who were equally part of this meeting frowned at NGOs who try to hide terrorist activities which they encounter in the course of their intervention.

To this effect, Governor Adolph called on the organisations operating in the region to decease from uncivil practices and report cases of terrorism to the appropriate authorities. “It is only in collaborating with Administrative Authorities that terrorist activities can be curbed”. He said.

At the end of the Coordination meeting with the representatives of NGOs in the North West Region, it was agreed that proper administrative procedures will be followed before any intervention is carried out by any organisation. Also, the NGO’s were tasked to keep administrative heads, defence and security forces abreast with happenings in their different areas of interventions amongst others.

By Sandrine M.