Supplementary pipes on the way to speed up degassing process.

«Speed up the degassing process of Lake Nyos for Survivors to resettle in the land of their ancestors". That is the message straight from Nyos and neighbourhoods 24 years after the killer lake produced horror with about 1800 people killed. The explosion on August 21, 1986 caused mass burials with no dignity. Twenty four years after, Lake Nyos is still around. On-the-spot, it presents an attraction of unparallel beauty. Yet; it is a disaster remembered as the killer lake. Its been 24 years of mourning but this time around Survivors are poised to move forward with governments security and socio- economic reintegration program. As we went to Press Survivors from Buabua and Kimbi camps regrouped under BUKILSDA are forging new ways forward in attempts to rebuild broken walls and settle back home.

Back to the lake proper. The lone degassing pipe planted since 2001 is conspicuous. It is routine life with government security agents watching over the neigbourhood. A few tourists come and go while the lake waters have been stepped up with heavy rains. The carbon dioxide alarm system planted at the gateway into the lake has had no ugly news sofar.

In effect, lake Nyos and neighbourhoods is still a disaster zone but human activity is evident with farms, houses and cattle spotted. Access into the lake is easy from Nyos village through a huge investment road project. Work on the road started a year ago and at press time earth works have been completed. Menchum Divisional Delegate of Public works, Awoh Ndang Denis told Cameroon Tribune that work has been temporary suspended on the 3km portion because of heavy rains and by the time surface dressing will be completed, it will be a rare and first rate communication facility.

The safety of lake Nyos is a prerequisite for Survivors spread in some seven camps to return to their land of origin. Against this backdrop, echoes are favourable with the stated commitment of the government of Cameroon in collaboration with the United Nation's Development Programme and the European Union to speed up the degassing process. The National program to ensure the security and socio-economic reintegration of the lake area is on course. There is hope that survivors will soon return to the land of their ancestors. Dr. Njilah Isaac Konfor, Coordinator of the Lake Nyos Programme reveal that two more supplementary degassing pipes, each having a capacity four times better than the one in the lake will soon reach Lake Nyos to speed up the degassing process. The Disaster Relief Organization Plan ( DROP) for Menchum division has been elaborated and validated.

Degassing project on track

Efforts towards the reinsertion of the population is equally on track with the institutionalization of a mixed commission whose members had since been designated. It emerges from the SDO's office in Wum that some 30 Actors from the 7 Survivor camps have been identified and trained on First Aid administration. It is also on record that so far, 30 emergency first Aid Kits have been purchased for the 30 Actors. A simulation exercise on toxic gas emission from lake Nyos was recently organized in Wum with trainees expected to use skills gathered to show the population how to manage crises and catastrophes. That apart; the physical capacity of the mixed crises committee has been reinforced with simple protective devices from the UNDP. They include gas masks, raincoats, helmets, rain boats, cutlasses and spades. Come what may, disasters remain a combination of accidents and vulnerabilities. Working against this backdrop, the Senior Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Marafa Hamidou Yaya announced on March 22, 2010 during a visit to Lake Nyos that the government will accelerate degassing work while strengthening the Lake Nyos dam in 2010, hopeful that 2010 prevention activities will progress to make the lake area safe and secure for habitation so that survivors can return in about two years. Twenty four years ago; the world was taken unaware by the lake Nyos explosion. After the disaster, a security zone was mapped out and the neighbourhoods of Nyos, Subum and Chah were declared risk zones for human habitation.