Survival of the Fittest:

Kumba IDPs Resort To Hawking, Prostitution for Survival
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in Kumba, the economic hub of the South West region have embraced hawking as a means to survive the hardship caused by the current armed conflict in the two Anglophone regions.
    Majority of the young IDPs living in Kumba from across villages in Meme Division, different parts of the Southwest and Northwest regions who have been living under precarious conditions have taken to petit businesses and other odd jobs to assist their host families and their parents.
    In a recent investigation carried out by the The Median, scores of IDPs between the ages of 10-20 who spoke to us revealed they are doing menial jobs and petite trading for survival and upkeep.
    “I first give thanks to God for keeping me alive today…many people have died in crossfire between the Amba boys and the military…we left the bush for Kumba because the suffering was too much on our side” Sakwe John, a 15-year-old IDP from Konye said adding that he is surviving from 1000frs given to him daily after performing role of a sales boy to his neighbor, a Nigerian businessman at the Kumba main market.
    “I go to the market every day from 7:00am and return home at 6:00pm. I attract customers to by patron’s shop and attend to them. I also assist some customers to carry their goods to the road and at times some end up giving me 100 or 200 FRS when they discover I am an IDP” Sakwe narrated adding that he prefers his daily routine of selling than staying and dying in the bush of hunger or crossfire between the warring parties.

    Itoe Antoinette, a 20-year-old IDP hawker from Kwa Kwa, Mbonge Sub-division, asserted that she and other friends have embarked on selling goods that are mostly needed with the coming of the rainy season. “I make fast turnovers in business with the coming of the rainy season that brings about seasonal businesses…the rainy season has made me to enter into umbrella business thanks to FCFA 25000 that our landlord borrowed my mum” Itoe said adding that she moves around with the umbrella especially when it rains and many people buy it making her to make small profit to assist her mum. She also revealed plans to switch from umbrella to rubber shoe, pullover business since they are goods that are mostly bought during this season.
    Many other IDPs we stumbled on in the course of the investigation between the ages of 11-19 hawking boil groundnuts, roast maize and plumps said the little profit made from the business will be used to prepare for resumption of classes come September if the environment is save enough for learning.
    A chat with other IDP parents in the various neighbourhoods also indicated their wish for the return to calm in order for them to return to their villages and start over their lives despite the hardship.