The Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA granted audience on Tuesday 6th May 2014 to Madam KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crises Response. The audience that lasted over forty minutes started at 2 pm and gave both personalities an occasion to review a wide range of issues.

Speaking to the press shortly afterwards, the European Commissioner hailed Cameroon’s generosity for taking on board so many refugees from the Central African Republic. She said that by accepting this great burden, Cameroon had proven to be a nation to count on.

Madam KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA revealed that the European Union has reviewed the situation and decided to double its humanitarian aid from 3 to 6 million Euros so as to help normalise the situation. She was aware that schooling, health care and food had all witnessed a rise in their prices due to the influx of the refugees.

Another issue that was discussed with the Head of State was that of security, according to KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, as she said that Cameroon has troops in the Central African Republic who are staking their lives to bring normality to that country. Similarly, the violence engendered by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is equally affecting Cameroon, and she promised that the UN, the EU and some countries will help to root out this scourge from the region.