After a month in temporary tents at the Sawla safety camp, displaced persons of the Gbenyiri conflict have safely returned to their respective communities with the hope of rebuilding their lives after by the violence.
Their return was facilitated by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in collaboration with the Ghana Red Cross Society, Olam Ghana and other United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies.
The Sawla camp, which housed hundreds of men, women and children, has since been closed down.
The resettlement exercise started last Tuesday and ended on Thursday.
Curfew
The 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew imposed on the affected communities, as well as the entire Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole districts by the Interior Ministry, remains fully in effect.
As part of the security measures, residents are prohibited from carrying firearms, ammunition or any offensive weapons within the area.
Also, there is a ban on wearing war regalia and riding motorbikes with more than two pillion riders at any time during the day.
Refuge seekers
While some displaced persons at the Vonkoro camp in Côte d’Ivoire have begun returning to their communities, those in Burkina Faso have requested relief support.
The Savannah Regional Director of NADMO, Zakaria Mahama, told the Daily Graphic that all persons sheltered at the Sawla camp had been resettled.
He stated that relief items, such as food and household supplies, were provided to the victims to facilitate their resettlement.
Mr Mahama said the security agencies had also intensified patrols in the affected areas to prevent recurring clashes.
He said authorities had designed a pathway to set up security posts in all the affected communities to maintain peace.
“Initially, most of them were reluctant to go home because of fear of attacks and because they had lost all their belongings.
“What to eat was their problem, but we have given them some relief items and beefed up security in the affected areas,” Mr Mahama said.
He added that NADMO was also working to mobilise more emergency relief support to alleviate the plight of the victims, while commending Olam Ghana, the Ghana Red Cross Society and UN humanitarian agencies for their assistance.
He appealed for more support for displaced persons in other areas, particularly in Burkina Faso and the Vonkoro camp in Cote d’Ivoire.
Reactions
Some victims who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed mixed feelings about their return.
A victim, Samuel Abudu, said rebuilding their livelihoods would require more support since many families had lost everything in the clashes.
“We were happy to return home, but life has not been easy because our houses were burnt and our farms destroyed.
At the camp, at least, we had food every day, but now we have to start life all over again," he lamented.
Another victim, Asana Yussif, thanked NADMO and various humanitarian agencies for their support and called for more to ease their situation.
“We are still afraid. We only hope the security men will stay in our communities so that there won’t be fighting any longer," she said.
Security measures
Earlier this week, the Daily Graphic reported that although most victims were eager to return, many were concerned for their safety.
Some said they would only feel secure once lasting peace was restored in their communities.
NADMO has, however, assured the residents that measures are being enhanced in collaboration with security agencies and humanitarian partners to maintain peace and stability at Gbenyiri and the surrounding areas.
Incident
The conflict that erupted over a parcel of land at Gbenyiri between two rival factions on August 24 resulted in 31 deaths, displaced approximately 48,000 residents and destroyed several houses and property.
Many victims were living in makeshift camps, while others were scattered across nearby districts.
Some have also been seeking refuge in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
The conflict began and escalated to about 12 other communities across the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole districts.
Writer’s email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
