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REFUGEE GRANT AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CENTER FOR REHABILITATION AND ABOLITION OF TORTURE (CRAT)

Yaounde – August 3, 2006

The United States Embassy in Cameroon announces that the United States Government and the Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture (CRAT) will hold a ceremony to sign a Refugee Grant Agreement resulting in twenty thousand dollars of assistance to be donated by the United States to Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture.  The ceremony will be held at the Multipurpose Room of the United States Embassy at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2006.

The Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture has been designated as a grant recipient under the Ambassadors’ Fund for Refugees Program.  The grant will be used by the Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture to provide psychosocial and mental health support to more than two thousand urban refugees in Yaounde.

The Agreement will be signed on behalf of CRAT by the Project Manager, Ajuo Basil Tifu.  Mr. Richard Nelson, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States of America in Cameroon will represent the United States Government. 

Due to its geographic position and socio-economic situation, Cameroon attracts thousands of refugees and asylum seekers every year.  A majority of the refugees come from Central and west African countries such as Congo, Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo. Recent statistics show that 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers are present in Cameroon. 

These refugees are depended on help from the Cameroon Red Cross and the High Commission for Refugees and some NGOs. They often manifest the following signs and symptoms: irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression. They also indulge in high risk activities such as prostitution and sexual promiscuity giving rise to HIV/AIDS, other Sexually Transmissible Diseases (STD).  Their nutritional status and personal hygiene are always very poor.
 

The Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture will appoint a coordinator who shall be responsible for the technical and financial management of the project objectives.  As such, the coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of field activities; the overall management and coordination of project activities; and ensure the proper partnership of all stakeholders in the project. The Center for Rehabilitation and Abolition of Torture will also prepare periodic reports on their progress. 

Any press queries regarding this program should be directed to Judith Ravin, Information Officer, United States Embassy, Yaounde, Cameroon.