Just when the population of Mbalmayo in the Nyong and So’o Division of the Centre Region thought they had been left to themselves after the February 6 storm that left some 100 families helpless, on tuesday March 15, the victims received a group of friends whom they termed “friends in deed”.

The Founding President of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), First lady, Chantal Biya sent a delegation of the association’s members with moral and material support to the victims. With kitchen utensils, foodstuffs and other important house equipment on hand, the head of CERAC delegation, Mrs Louisette Mabiom, who is also the president of the association’s Social Committee, extended the First Lady’s message of condolence and hope to the victims of the disaster that claimed the life of a secondary school boy, damaged public buildings as well as private homes.

Louisette Mabiom said she and the CERAC delegation went to Mbalmayo with assistance from the First Lady which testifies the solidarity of all CERAC women. Louisette Mabiom told the victims “we are together with you to ask for God’s grace to grant all your families the courage and hope to overcome the trial moment.” During the event that took place at the Mbalmayo grandstand, special gifts of 45 blankets, 45 pairs of bed sheets, one cow and also two television sets were donated to female inmates of the Mbalmayo prison.

One hour before the arrival of the CERAC delegation, inhabitants of Mbalmayo, particularly women, had already transformed the Mbalmayo ceremonial grand into a dancing ground expressing their joy and gratitude to CERAC members. As the women danced to the tempo of local artists, they carried banners which read “Mama Chantal Biya, the population of Nyong and So’o say thank you for your actions in favour of vulnerable population found in all the nooks and crannies of Cameroon”. This message was re-echoed again when Jacqueline Abomo Ntomo, on behalf of the victims, expressed their gratitude to Mrs Chantal Biya whom they considered their mother who is visibly present by them at all times.

With the timely gesture from the First Lady to the victims of the Mbalmayo disaster, the Mayor of Mbalmayo, Dieudonné Zang Mba Obele said they now know their true friends particularly Mama Chantal Biya who is their First Honourary citizen who always brings hope and joy to the Mbalmayo population in times of problem.