The Akwa Ibom Indigenes Organisation in South Africa, AKIOSA, has appealed to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to provide emergency financial assistance to hundreds of indigenes affected by the wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
In a letter to the governor, the president of the organisation’s executive committee, Dr Akaninyene F. Willie, said several Akwa Ibom families had been displaced from areas affected by attacks and were currently in need of temporary accommodation and basic means of survival.
Willie said the situation had developed into a humanitarian crisis, with members of the community losing businesses, livelihoods and income as a result of attacks and the looting and destruction of shops.
According to him, professionals, artisans and traders have been particularly affected, while the constant threat of violence has left many members of the community traumatised and uncertain about their future.
The organisation acknowledged the efforts of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Linda Akon Umoh, in engaging with the affected indigenes, but said the situation now required direct financial intervention.
AKIOSA requested the establishment of an emergency sustenance and stabilisation fund to provide immediate cash relief to affected families for food, emergency medical care and other basic needs.
It also appealed for short-term housing and rental assistance for indigenes who had been displaced or were facing eviction, as well as grants to enable traders and artisans whose businesses were destroyed to replace tools, restock their shops and resume operations.
Willie said the affected indigenes remained important contributors to the state’s economy through remittances and their professional and technical skills in areas including healthcare, education, information technology and various trades.
He urged Governor Eno to intervene urgently, arguing that assistance to the victims would help protect their investments and enable them to recover from the losses suffered during the violence.
The organisation said it was making the appeal because many affected indigenes were unable to return to normal economic activities and were struggling to provide basic necessities for their families.
‘We’ve lost everything’ — Akwa Ibom indigenes in South Africa appeal to Eno