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Humanitarian crisis update Kolofata, Far North, Cameroon - December 8, 2016

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In November and December 2016, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) began making regular visits to Kolofata, a commune in Cameroon’s Far North region which hosts a large displaced population who are living without the basic necessities of life in an area devastated by war. Many humanitarian actors consider Kolofata, an area bordering Nigeria’s Borno State and terrorized by Boko Haram, to be inaccessible. But by taking multiple steps to minimize security risks, working closely with local community leaders, and maintaining strict humanitarian neutrality, the IRC believes that it is both possible and imperative for humanitarian actors to provide life-saving assistance to displaced and host community populations in Kolofata.

Humanitarian situation

The Boko Haram conflict has caused major population displacement and disruption of services and infrastructure in Cameroon’s Far North. Since 2013–14, the number of internally displaced persons in the Far North has increased by at least 65% each year, and is on track to increase by a similar proportion in 2016.1 Within this overall context, Kolofata has been among the hardest-hit areas. Between August and October 2016, Kolofata district saw a greater increase in presence of internally-displaced persons than any other district in the Far North.

As of November 2016, local authorities reported a total of 31,545 displaced persons registered within Kolofata commune.3 About half of them are within the town of Kolofata, tripling the town’s peacetime population of around 7,000.4 Many of them fled from Boko Haram’s violence with little more than the clothes on their backs. The displaced come both from outside and from within the commune, where numerous villages have been destroyed by Boko Haram and are no longer inhabited. For the past several months the displaced have been living with host families, in improvised shelters made of materials such as reeds and palm-fronds, or without shelter entirely, sleeping in the open. They almost entirely lack access to potable water or sanitary facilities: all but a few water pumps have broken down, and latrines are scarce.

The IRC’s response

Since mid-November, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and LDS, the IRC has been providing immediate aid to 5,200 of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the zone, as well as improved access to potable water for displaced families. Activities include:

  • Four manual water pumps repaired to date, and 14 more to be repaired in the coming weeks. Working with local authorities, the IRC has identified local mechanics with the skills to repair the pumps, and is providing them with spare parts and monitoring their progress.

  • Distribution of water and hygiene kits containing soap, water jugs, and other items to 579 vulnerable households

  • Distribution of basic household items (NFI kits) containing sleeping mats, blankets, and mosquito nets to 579 vulnerable households

  • Provision of an initial cash transfer of 66,000 francs CFA (about $110) to 153 of the most vulnerable displaced and host community households, with a further three monthly cash transfers of 42,000 francs CFA (about $70) each planned for the coming months.

Beneficiaries for cash transfers, water and hygiene kits, and basic household items were selected using a community-based targeting approach. The IRC first formed a Relief Committee of community members who produced a list of the most vulnerable households in the community, based on objective criteria targeting households that have very low income, live in an improvised or multi-household shelter, include five or more children, or are led by a woman, elderly person, or unemployed person. Eighty percent of beneficiaries are displaced and 20% come from the host community. Once the Relief Committee produced the list, IRC staff conducted verification through a public assembly.