BRUSSELS, Nov 18 (Reuters) – Lithuanian Rail on Wednesday had its 27.9 million euro ($33 million) EU antitrust fine cut by a third though Europe’s second-top court backed EU enforcers’ ruling that it had hindered competition by removing a track running to Latvia.
The European Commission in its 2017 decision said it was unacceptable that the operator removed the 19-kilometre (12 mile) stretch of track in 2008 after Polish oil company PKN Orlen wanted to redirect its freight to Latvian ports from its refinery in Lithuania by using another rail operator and a short route to the border.
Lithuanian Rail subsequently challenged the ruling at the Luxembourg-based General Court. Judges took the EU competition enforcer’s side.
“The Commission made no error in determining that removal of a railway track before the renovation works had even begun constituted highly unusual conduct in the rail sector,” the court said.
It however cut the fine to 20.07 million euros, citing its jurisdiction in this area and the gravity and duration of the operator’s wrongdoing.
$1 = 0.8418 euros Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Louise Heavens
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STOCKHOLM, Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Embracer Group AB (“Embracer”) and its subsidiaries have as previously communicated this morning entered into 13 acquisition agreements (the “Acquisitions”). The acquired businesses are, during the financial year ending 31 March 2022, expected to contribute to Embracer Group’s net sales in the range of SEK 850-1,050 million and contribute to operational EBIT in the range of SEK 300-400 million. In addition, during FY 2021/2022 the expanded studio footprint is expected to bring savings on capitalized game development in the range of SEK 50-100 million. The combined operational EBIT and savings on game development are expected to be in the range of SEK 350-500 million and this profitability is expected to grow in the following years as more game development projects will be completed.
The aggregated day one purchase price for the Acquisitions amounts to approximately SEK 2.0 billion on a cash and debt free basis. Approximately SEK 1.7 billion is paid in cash and SEK 0.3 billion in newly issued Embracer B shares with a maximum additional consideration amounting to SEK 1.8 billion, which is subject to fulfilment of agreed milestones, both operational and financial, over a period of up to 10 years. The additional consideration comprise a maximum of approximately SEK 0.9 billion which may be paid in cash and a maximum approximately SEK 0.9 billion to be paid in Embracer B shares at a price corresponding to the volume weighted average price per Embracer B share at Nasdaq First North Growth Market during 20 trading days up until and including the date of signing of the Acquisitions (VWAP 20). The aggregated maximum consideration amounts to SEK 3.8 billion.
The total number of shares that are issued as part of the aggregate consideration, excluding shares issued as part of earn-out structures, amounts to approximately 1,723,000 Embracer B shares issued at a price of approximately SEK 174 per B share. The part of the additional consideration consisting of Embracer B shares amounts to a maximum of approximately 5,170,000 shares provided that all earn out targets are met. Approximately 1,367,000 B shares being part of the additional consideration are issued at closing of the Acquisitions and subject to such as claw back rights and lock-up restrictions. A maximum of approximately 3,803,000 B shares may be issued in the future as additional consideration subject to fulfillment of certain targets. The share issues are made pursuant to the authorization granted by the extra general meeting held on 16 November 2020.
The Acquisitions
All of Embracer’s operating units – THQ Nordic, Deep Silver/Koch Media, Coffee Stain, Amplifier Games Invest, Saber Interactive and Deca Games – are making bolt-on acquisitions. Embracer onboards more than 1,250 experienced and talented people, strengthens its developer footprint in Eastern Europe as well as its development and UA capabilities within free-to-play. In most of the transactions, earn-outs and management incentives over 5-10 years, have been put in place to ensure long term alignment with the founders and management teams joining Embracer.
The announced Acquisitions are aligned with Embracer’s growth strategy and is enabled by the group’s decentralized operating model. Over the past three years, Embracer has expanded from one to six operating units. Each of these operating units have put in place their own M&A agenda with the purpose of adding additional organic growth opportunities and to improve long term profit and cash flow generation. For Embracer’s decentralized operating model to be sustainable and scalable, it is a necessity that most acquisitions are originated and onboarded on the operating unit level. For the Embracer operating model with emphasis on decentralized decision making and independence for local management to work, it is also necessary that founders and management of acquired companies join Embracer with a long-term mindset.
Through the Acquisitions, Embracer Group grows to 58 internal studios and more than 5,700 employees and contracted employees in more than 45 countries.
Embracer’s inhouse developer footprint is expanded by 767 developers, equivalent to a 30 percent increase and brings the total number of internal developers to 3,318. The total headcounts within the group increases to more than 5,700 employees and contracted employees following the Acquisitions. The management depth is further extended by the addition of strong business leaders and local management teams with an impressive track record, where many of the acquired companies are leading premium games developers in their respective countries.
Deca Operating Unit will triple in size in terms of revenues and employees
Embracer entered the free-to-play games segment with the acquisition of Deca Games in August 2020. Today, the Deca Operating Unit is established with the addition of A Thinking Ape and IUGO, two studios based in Canada. Embracer estimate the new Deca Operating Unit will triple in size in terms of revenues and employees and create a full scale free-to-play operation with expertise across IP origination, game development, marketing, user acquisition and live operations. Deca Games, A Thinking Ape and IUGO will continue to operate as independent companies within the Deca Operating Unit free-to-play ecosystem with their respective management teams continuously responsible for day-to-day operations. Founders and management across these businesses have a long term alignment with Embracer and shares a passion for creating a substantial free-to-play business over time through a combination of organic growth and by welcoming more FTP gaming entrepreneurs to the Embracer family.
Embracer Group’s capital allocation strategy are essential for continued growth
The capital allocation priorities for Embracer are unchanged. The first priority for allocation of operational cash flow from released games to reinvest as much as possible into value enhancing organic growth opportunities, e.g. new game projects. The second priority is to use free cash flow to finance, bolt-on acquisitions in the operating units.
Embracer reiterates the ambition to maintain a strong balance sheet and strives to maintain a net cash position to maintain maximum strategic flexibility. For the right inorganic growth opportunity, financial leverage could temporarily exceed 1,0x operational EBIT to net debt, where operational EBIT is measured as management expectations for the coming twelve months. In such circumstances, leverage should at least return to below 1,0x net debt to operational EBIT over the medium term, either by retaining cash from operations or by raising primary capital in the equity market.
Cash at hand and available credit facilities post the cash payment of the Acquisitions amounts to more than SEK 8.5 billion. Furthermore, on 16 November 2020, the extra general meeting authorized the board of directors to issue B shares in the amount not exceeding ten (10) percent of the total number of shares in the Company at the time when the authorization is used the first time to fund acquisitions, parts of this mandate has been used according to the Acquisitions. The ambition is to continue to partly fund acquisitions with equity to create long term alignment with founders and management joining Embracer.
The shares and dilution
Through the Acquisitions, Embracer may in aggregate issue, including earn-out consideration shares, a total of approximately 6,893,000 shares, meaning that the number of shares in Embracer can increase from 421,139,665 to approximately 428,032,665 B shares, and that the number of votes can increase from 721,731,898 to approximately 728,624,898.
The total number of shares that are issued as part of the aggregate consideration, excluding shares issued as part of earn-out structures, are issued at a price of approximately SEK 174 per B share.
The part of the additional consideration for the Acquisitions consisting of Embracer B shares amounts to a maximum of approximately 5,170,000 shares provided that all earn out targets are met. Approximately 1,367,000 B shares being part of the additional consideration are issued at closing of the Acquisitions and subject to such as claw back rights and lock-up restrictions. A maximum of approximately 3,803,000 B shares may be issued in the future as additional consideration subject to fulfillment of certain targets. All earn-out shares are issued at a price of approximately SEK 174 per B share.
The Acquisitions will, if all earn-out consideration shares are issued, lead to a dilution of approximately 1.61 percent of the share capital and approximately 0.95 percent of the votes in Embracer based on the number of shares and votes in Embracer following completion of the Acquisitions and issuance of all earn-out consideration shares.
All shares issued as part of the consideration for the Acquisitions, excluding the earn-out consideration shares, are issued based on the authorization from the extra general meeting on 16 November 2020.
Advisers
Ernst & Young AB is providing transaction support and Baker McKenzie is acting as legal counsel to Embracer in connection with the Acquisitions.
Responsible party
This information constitutes inside information that Embracer Group AB is obliged to make public in accordance with the (EU) Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014. The information in this press release has been made public through the agency of the responsible person set out below for publication at the time stated by Embracer Group’s news distributor Cision at the publication of this press release. The responsible person below may be contacted for further information.
For additional information, please contact:
Lars Wingefors, Co-founder and Group CEO Embracer Group AB
Tel: +46 708 47 19 78
E-mail: [email protected]
About Embracer Group
Embracer Group is the parent company of businesses developing and publishing PC, console and mobile games for the global games market. Embracer Group has an extensive catalogue of over 190 owned franchises, such as Saints Row, Goat Simulator, Dead Island, Darksiders, Metro, MX vs ATV, Kingdoms of Amalur, TimeSplitters, Satisfactory, Wreckfest, Insurgency and World War Z, amongst many others.
With its head office based in Karlstad, Sweden, Embracer Group has a global presence through its six operative groups: THQ Nordic GmbH, Koch Media GmbH/Deep Silver, Coffee Stain AB, Amplifier Game Invest, Saber Interactive and DECA Games. Embracer Group has 46 internal game development studios and is engaging more than 4,000 employees and contracted employees in more than 40 countries.
Embracer Group’s shares are publicly listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm under the ticker EMBRAC B with FNCA Sweden AB as its Certified Adviser; [email protected] +46-8-528 00 399.
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Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the company’s intentions, beliefs, or current expectations about and targets for the company’s future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which the company operates. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “estimate”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “aim” or “might”, or, in each case, their negative, or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that they will materialize or prove to be correct. Because these statements are based on assumptions or estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, the actual results or outcome could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. Embracer does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this press release are free from errors and readers of this press release should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements that are expressly or implicitly contained herein speak only as of its date and are subject to change without notice. Neither the Embracer nor anyone else undertake to review, update, confirm or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this press release, unless it is not required by law or Nasdaq First North Growth Market’s rule book for issuers.
The Bishops of Europe have addressed a message of hope and a call to solidarity to European Institutions and Member states amid the health crisis that has overwhelmed the world these past months.
In a message released on Wednesday under their umbrella body, COMECE, they reiterated their commitment to the construction of Europe and to its founding values of “solidarity, freedom, inviolability of the human dignity, democracy, rule of law, equality and defence and promotion of human rights.”
Inspired by Christian faith, which “is the ultimate foundation of our hope and universal brotherhood,” the Bishops also reaffirm their will to strive, together with other sister Churches and ecclesial communities, to “build a universal fraternity that leaves no one out.”
Highlighting some of the wide-ranging effects of the Covid-19 health crisis, they noted that the pandemic has shaken many “previous securities and has revealed our vulnerability and our interconnectedness.”
Many, the Bishops noted, were worried that the EU itself “as an economic, political, social and cultural project, was at risk.”
However, propelled by the realization that everyone is in the same boat and we can only save ourselves by staying together, the EU is demonstrating its capacity to rediscover the spirit of the Founding Fathers and is beginning to respond in a united manner. This spirit, the Bishops hope, will be reflected in the Covid-19 recovery instrument and the reinforced EU budget for 2021 – 2027.
A new mindset
The future of the European Union does not depend only on economy and finance, but also on a common spirit and a new mindset, the Bishops stressed.
In this regard, efforts should not be simply devoted to returning to the “old normal.” Instead, the continent must take advantage of the crisis to bring about a “radical change for the better” by rethinking the present models of globalization, guaranteeing respect for the environment, openness to life, social equality, protecting the dignity of workers and the rights of future generations.
The Bishops also pointed out that Pope Francis’ Encyclicals Laudato sí and Fratelli tutti can be a source of inspiration for shaping a new civilization. In Fratelli tutti, the Bishops note, Pope Francis “calls on the whole of humanity to universal brotherhood and social friendship, not forgetting those on the margins, wounded and suffering”. At the same time, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, with their emphasis on human dignity, solidarity, preferential option for the poor and sustainability, can guide the path to building a different economic model in a post-pandemic society.
Solidarity
COMECE stressed the importance of solidarity as a fundamental principle of the Social Doctrine of the Church as well as being at the core of the European Integration process.
Solidarity, the Bishops said, “is to be understood in terms of ‘doing together’ and as ‘being open to integrate everyone’,” including those on the margins.
In this light, the Bishops appealed for the Covid-19 vaccine, when it becomes available, to be accessible to all, especially to the poor. They also called for increased humanitarian aid and development cooperation, and for military spending to the redirected towards health and social services.
Care for Migrants and refugees
The European Bishops noted that solidarity towards refugees should not only involve funding but extended to include “opening up the borders of the European Union proportionally by each Member State.”
They proposed that the Pact on Migration and Asylum presented by the EU can be a step toward establishing a common and just policy on migration. However, they said, it must also be carefully evaluated. Besides, certain principles and international legal obligations have to be respected “regardless of the persons involved.”
On this issue, the Bishops recommend collaboration with Church institutions and private associations already working in this field.
They further stressed the respect for the freedom of religion of believers, in particular, “the freedom to gather together to exercise their freedom of worship, in full respect of sanitary requirements” during the pandemic.
Post-pandemic society
During these months of pandemic, the Bishops note that they have witnessed “so many signs that open us up to hope,” from the work of health personnel, to caregivers for the elderly and the gestures of ecclesial communities – notwithstanding the difficult moments, including times of suffering, loneliness and sometimes, death.
The Bishops recalled Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday when he noted that Europe was able to rise again and overcome the rivalries of the past after the Second World War. For the Pope, they noted, it is important that “these rivalries do not regain force, but that all recognize themselves as part of a single family and support one another.”
Therefore, whether the world will be better or worse after the crisis, or whether we will come out strengthened in solidarity or not, the depends on us, the Bishops stressed.
Concluding, the European Bishops expressed their hope that Europe can come out from this crisis “stronger, wiser, more united, exercising more solidarity, caring more for our common home, being a continent that pushes the whole world forward towards greater fraternity, justice, peace and equality.”
European Union flags flying in front of the European Commission building in Brussels
Israeli activists Sheffi Paz and Meirav Hajaj, residents of south Tel Aviv, were alleged as the two who vandalized the entrance to the offices of the European Union in Ramat Gan on Sunday.
The pair were seen in security footage spraying “EU Get Out” and “German money kills Jews” in red spray paint” on the door to the office complex.
תיעוד בלעדי שהבאנו אני ומשה נוסבאום במהדורה: שפי פז והאם השכולה מרב חג’אג’ משחיתות את שגרירות האיחוד האירופי. התיעוד המלא באתר @NewsChannelILpic.twitter.com/Lm5yh7ZkhB
Paz was picked up for questioning Sunday evening by Israel Police after it was found that she and Hajaj were seen on the security footage defacing the entrance to the EU embassy.
Paz was subsequently questioned by police at the precinct in Ramat Gan in connection with the incident.
Pope Francis greeted the faithful on Wednesday morning, saying: “Today we meet the Virgin Mary as the prayerful woman.”
Continuing his catechesis on prayer during the weekly General Audience, which is currently streamed live from the Apostolic Library, the Pope upheld Mary as a model for our own life and prayer.
He recalled her in her youth, “the young girl of Nazareth wrapped in silence, in dialogue with God, who would soon entrust her with a mission.”
Although she was already full of grace and immaculate from the moment she was conceived, the Pope said, she knew nothing “of her surprising and extraordinary vocation and the stormy sea she will have to cross.”
“One thing is certain,” he said. “Mary belongs to a great host of the humble of heart whom the official historians never include in their books, but whom God used to prepare for the coming of His Son.”
Waiting for God’s will
Pope Francis went on to describe how Mary waited for God to take the reins of her path and guide her, and how she prepared, with great docility, “the grand events in which God takes part in the world.”
The Catechism, he said, recalls her constant and caring presence in the benevolent design of the Father throughout the course of Jesus’s life.
Mary was praying, Pope Francis recalled, when the Archangel Gabriel brought his message to her in Nazareth: “Her small yet immense ‘Here I am,’ made all of creation jump for joy at that moment”. He said that trusting obedience was preceded throughout salvation history by many other trusting obediences, by so many people who were open to God’s will.
An attitude of openness
Pope Francis said there is no better way to pray than to place oneself in an attitude of openness: “Lord, what You want, when You want, and how You want”.
He said that this attitude allows many believers to face reality without getting upset when their days are filled with problems, “knowing that in humble love offered in each situation, we become instruments of God’s grace.”
Prayer, the Pope said, “knows how to calm restlessness, knows how to transform it into availability. “
Prayerful acceptance
He recalled the many moments of tremendous trial endured by the Virgin Mary and of how she was accompanied by prayer in every moment of her life, and in every moment of Jesus’ life, right up to His death and resurrection.
“If in prayer we understand that each day given by God is a call, our hearts will then widen and we will accept everything. We will learn how to say: ‘What You want, Lord. Promise me only that You will be present every step of my way,’” he said.
Mother of God and Mother of the Church
Mary, the Pope said, prayerfully accompanied the newborn Church and through her openness to the power of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of God thus became the Mother of the Church.
“In the Virgin Mary, natural feminine intuition is exalted by her most singular union with God in prayer. This is why, reading the Gospel, we note that she seems to disappear at times, only to reappear for crucial moments: it was God’s voice that guided her heart and her steps where her presence was needed,” he said.
A splendid pearl
Saint Luke tells us that Mary “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart,” he continued, explaining, “Everything ends up in her heart so that it might pass through the sieve of prayer and be transfigured by it.”
The Mother keeps everything and brings it to her dialogue with God, Pope Francis concluded: “Someone has compared Mary’s heart to a pearl of incomparable splendour, formed and smoothed by patient acceptance of God’s will through the mysteries of Jesus meditated on in prayer. How beautiful it would be if we too could be a bit like our Mother!”
The WHO Small Countries Initiative has released 2 sets of micro case studies, illustrating the experiences of 11 small countries and 1 region in strengthening their health workforces in the areas of postgraduate training and monitoring and managing health workforce mobility.
Challenges to the health workforce in small countries are further influenced by their size, context and dynamics. Their smallness means that challenges in this area, such as a brain drain or lack of specialized health professionals, are revealed sooner than would be the case in larger countries where they often manifest themselves at a later stage.
Improving postgraduate and speciality training and the monitoring and management of health-workforce mobility are two of the areas covered by the micro case studies in addressing challenges related to the health workforce.
The collection of micro case studies was undertaken by the Working Group on Human Resources for Health in Small Countries in the WHO European Region.
Postgraduate and specialty training: a varied and rich solution
The micro case studies highlighted many ways in which improved postgraduate training contributes to strengthening the health workforce. Some small countries have capitalized on these, for example, by using data collected through the shared-medical-record system in assessing future postgraduate-training needs. Others have established collaboration with hospitals in other countries to improve their access to speciality training.
Small countries know what works in general and when to seek guidance on addressing challenges in this area. The availability of more timely and coordinated data would, however, strengthen this resource and, in turn, enable a higher level of information-sharing.
A mobile workforce
The micro case-studies also demonstrate that data on the mobility and migration of health professionals are not available to all practising professionals. Furthermore, they find that use of the “WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel” varies among small countries/regions. Different financial and other incentives are used to retain health professionals or encourage them to return home, for example, after studies abroad.
The case studies also reveal that data represent only one of several key elements needed for the effective planning of human resources for health, and illustrate how small countries are able to identify areas of cooperation to this end.
Looking ahead
In highlighting ways in which countries can continue to learn from one another towards building a sustainable health workforce, this document offers suggestions on how to recruit and retain the necessary health professionals, attract young people to health-related professions, and address shortages of certain medical specialties.
According to research conducted by WHO/Europe and reports from the field, the European Region now risks accelerated spread of antimicrobial resistance. The long-term problem of antibiotics being used inappropriately by individuals and in health care settings is worsening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, set to take place on 18–24 November, is an opportunity to focus attention on the evolving situation.
Despite the fact that antibiotics do not treat or prevent viral infections like COVID-19, the results of behavioural insight research conducted in 9 countries and areas of the European Region showed antibiotic use increasing throughout the pandemic along with cases. Of those taking the antibiotics, 79–96% reported not having been infected with COVID-19 but were taking antibiotics inappropriately, believing they would prevent infection. Evidence indicates that up to 15% of severely affected COVID-19 patients develop bacterial co-infection and could need antibiotics, whereas 75% actually receive them.
“Antibiotics save lives and we should ensure their effectiveness for as long as possible. Some patients with severe COVID-19 also have bacterial co-infections and need antibiotics to survive,” explained Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director of WHO/Europe’s Division of Country Health Programmes. “This has been a very difficult time for health care institutions. Especially now in the pandemic it is important that clear guidelines are put in place to prevent inappropriate use of antibiotics. Everyone has a role to play as an antibiotic guardian, whether they are a parent, a prescriber or a policy-maker.”
Dr Fabio Soldani is an infectious disease specialist in Verona, Italy, consulting on different wards within the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata hospital. His experience on the front line in northern Italy – the first area of Europe to be severely affected by COVID-19 – confirms how difficult it was at first to restrict the use of antibiotics.
Keeping antibiotics for patients with clear signs of bacterial infection
“At the beginning, we gave COVID-19 patients in my hospital antibiotics in the way that we typically would for community-acquired pneumonia. This meant we would give them broad-spectrum antibiotics such as cephalosporins and azithromycin, until possible bacterial superinfections had been ruled out,” he explained. “As the epidemic continued and we gained more experience, we started reserving antibiotic treatment only for patients with signs of laboratory-confirmed bacterial infection. Whenever possible, we tried to shorten the length of antibiotic treatment.”
In Dr Soldani’s hospital good practice in antimicrobial stewardship from before the pandemic helped prevent antibiotic misuse when the crisis hit.
“In intensive care we generally avoid giving antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection in patients on machines that are helping them to breathe. We kept this practice also during the COVID-19 epidemic. For detecting infections, we are using new diagnostic techniques more than ever before.”
Increased levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Despite these measures, the hospital, like many others in the European Region, has had to deal with increased levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria during the pandemic.
“There have been several bacterial infections due to Pseudomonas and Enterococci, often with high levels of resistance. I believe that widespread use of third-generation cephalosporins can lead to an increase in resistance, especially in a hospital setting.”
Underlining the need for careful evaluation, Dr Soldani feels that more investigation is required to assess the impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic use in hospital settings. The situation is complex as some aspects of the pandemic in hospitals actually appeared to reduce antibiotic use. As the range of activities in the hospital was scaled back and only focused on emergencies, there were fewer health care-associated infections, which are often resistant to antibiotics.
“With the experience that we have gained, I believe that we would now adopt a different approach if we found ourselves in a similar situation once again. The use of antibiotics would most likely be more restricted. I think that once COVID-19 is laboratory-confirmed, which takes much less time than before, if there are no signs of bacterial superinfection, then using antibiotics should be avoided.”
While in the northern region of Cameroon the Boko Haram Jihadist insurgency began about 2010, in the North West and South West Regions the fighting between the Cameroonian army and anglophone separatists flared-up into full-scale war in 2017.
Recently the Migrants & Refugees Section of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development characterised the situation on the Cameroon-Nigerian borders not only as “outrageous” but representing the “untold history of a people.”
Drawing attention to the region, the Vatican office points out the irony of Nigerians crossing the border in the northern areas seeking safety in Cameroon while Cameroonians are also crossing into the southeastern region of Nigeria. As the conflicts rage on, many innocent people have been killed, children forced to drop out of school and families on the run, have left their homes. There are not many headlines about these conflicts save for the odd mention when serious atrocities occur. In between, ordinary villagers, the National Commission for Refugees, UN agencies and the Church both in Cameroon and Nigeria are doing their bit to provide humanitarian assistance for Cameroonians caught-up in the conflicts.
Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Calabar welcoming Cameroonian refugees
When refugees cross into Nigeria from Cameroon, some of them would have been on the run for close to eight days before they can find help. Hungry, tired and some in need of medical attention from gunshot wounds, the first responders for the new arrivals, as happens always, are the local people and local authorities. The situation has not been any different In Nigeria’s Cross River State on the southeastern side of the country of which Calabar is the capital.
“One of the refugees shared a heart-breaking experience. He was in bed when in the middle of the night he heard shouting, a lot of noise and then the sound of a gun. He just got out of bed and ran. He was not even properly dressed. He was in his boxer shorts and had to flee the attack on his village just as he was. They ran into the bush where they were for seven to eight days. Feeding was a major problem … a lot of lives have been lost (in the anglophone regions), and people are scared for their lives,” Fr. Emmanuel Bekomson told Vatican News in an interview.
Fr. Bekomson, Director of the Archdiocese of Calabar’s Justice Development Peace Commission (JDPC), observed that because of the influx of refugees, local infrastructure had been stretched to the limit and the impact on already poor and struggling host communities is visible. There is inadequate accommodation, food, water, sanitation and mosquito nets, he said.
Small income-generating projects such as hair salons
It can take days before the new arrivals, from Cameroon, are processed by local government authorities and UN agencies. In the meantime, the refugees need a place to stay and food as they wait. Fr. Bekomson appealed for help so that the Archdiocese of Calabar can build a centre where newly arrived refugees would be housed as they await processing. Refugees, said Fr. Bekomson, also need small income-generating projects such as hair salons, barbershops or poultry for them be independent.
Cooperation between Nigerian and Cameroonian Bishops
Dioceses in Nigeria and Cameroon are cooperating and coordinating humanitarian efforts. According to Fr. Bekomson, humanitarian support includes spiritual and pastoral care.
For their part, the Cameroonian Bishops under the auspices of the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda (BAPEC) where many of the Cameroonian refugees originate, are in constant communion with their brother-Bishops in the Nigerian Episcopate to “accompany their Sheep” on the move.
“Yes, indeed the socio-political crisis in our part of the country has greatly come with the unfortunate displacement of many of our people. We have many of our people who are Internally Displaced, and some are refugees even as far away as in Nigeria. At the moment we do not see any headway out of the crisis, and we may have to deal with this for a long while,” said Bishop George Nkuo, the Bishop of Kumbo and President of BAPEC.
Listen to an excerpt of the Interview with Fr. Emmanuel Bekomson
