Thirty (30) displaced victims of the Gbinyire conflict, including children as young as four months old, have arrived in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The displaced persons, traumatized by the violence, are currently being sheltered in an uncompleted building. The victims: 14 men, 16 women, half of whom are children; escaped through the bush from the Savannah Region before being escorted by police to Kumasi, and later continuing their journey to Kyebi.
One of the displaced, Prince Appeh, made the journey with his wife and their four-month-old baby.
“When the fight became intense and they were killing people, I mobilized my wife, children and cousins, numbering thirty and escaped into the bush. So, I had contact of a police officer whom I called to come to our rescue. So he came to escort us to pick a vehicle, so I called my sister at Kyebi that we are coming to seek refuge. She gave us direction and we picked bus and she met us, and brought us here.” Prince Appeh revealed.
Appeh says they are unwilling to return home any time soon even after the conflict.
Their relative, Afua Samui Tabi, who lives with a family in Kyebi could not control her tears as she narrated her intervention:
“One day, when I returned from Church, my Madam told me there is conflict in my hometown and they were killing people. I panickly started calling my family members, but couldn’t reach anyone. I was worried but one day I got one of them and he told me they wer hiding in the bush escaping from the conflict. So I told them to come to Kyebi to seek refuge”.
According to their landlady, Juliet Nkansah, the arrival was marked by tears, as many of the children appeared visibly traumatized. She has made available an uncompleted building shelter for them for the meantime until a permanent shelter is found.
Meanwhile, relief items including food and clothing, slippers, tooth brush and toothpaste, coal pots, were presented by NADMO with support from the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Kingsley Agyemang.
The NADMO Director Aikens Ofori warned the displaced victims against engaging in illegal mining.
“Yes, it has already happened. From the horses own mouth, they said they are more than 30, but because of economic difficulties, others are no where to be found. They are in our catchment areas engaging in galamsey; our fear is that they are new to this environment so NADMO will do our possible best so that we trace all of them and bring them on board”.
He appealed to individuals and coorporate organisations to come to the aide of the victims.
The Gbinyire conflict has displaced thousands. Latest figures show over 14,000 residents have crossed into Ivory Coast, while thousands fled to other towns and communities. At least 17 lives have been lost since the clashes began.
Source : Starrfm.com.gh
