Cameroon: North-West and South-West - Situation Report No. 63 (March 2024)

This report is produced by OCHA Cameroon in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 1 to 31 March 2024. The next report will be issued in May 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Five attacks on education were reported in March, bringing the cumulative number of attacks on education to 17 since January 2024.

• NSAGs enforce a one-month movement suspension on the Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok road axis without any humanitarian exemption.

• At least nine IED incidents were reported.

• About 160 houses damaged or destroyed in Etam village in Tombel subdivision of the SW following heavy rains.

SITUATION OVERVIEW / HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

The situation in the North-West and South-West (NWSW) regions remained concerning, with continued hostilities, targeted attacks, destruction of property, kidnappings for ransom, arbitrary arrests, and extortion affecting populations. Non-State armed groups (NSAGs) continue to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target State security forces (SSFs) convoys, including on roads used by civilians. At least nine IEDs incidents were reported (seven in the NW and two in the SW). The population continued to be accused by warring parties of collaborating with or supporting the other side, incidents were reported severally affecting civilians based on such allegations.

Formal education continued to be seriously threatened by NSAGs in the NWSW. On 20 March, members of a nonState armed group entered two government schools in the localities of Weh and Esu, Menchum division, NW, opened fire and burned down examination papers, disrupting all ongoing examinations. The vice principal and two teachers were abducted in Weh and three teachers in Esu. In March, five attacks on education were reported. Meanwhile, a cumulative 17 attacks on education have been reported since January. Menchum and Momo divisions have been particularly impacted. Humanitarian partners continue to advocate for a safe education environment for pupils, teachers, and school personnel in the NWSW.

The humanitarian situation is exacerbated by natural disasters caused by heavy rains leading to floods, landslides, and destruction of property. Residents of Etam community, Tombel Subdivision in the SW, suffered significant losses after a devastating thunderstorm hit their village on 27 March 2024. The storm, caused damage to property and farmland, affecting more than one hectare of crops vital to the community's livelihood. Some 160 houses, usually made of wood, were partially or completely damaged, leaving many families homeless and creating an urgent need for shelter and repairs. Funding shortfalls in the NWSW humanitarian response plan hamper the ability of partners to respond in a timely manner to sudden emergencies whether caused by the ongoing crisis or by natural disasters.

NSAGs enforced a one-month movement suspension along the Bamenda – Mamfe - Ekok highway from 4 March to 4 April, with the announced objective to create a corridor to conduct operations against the SSF and to hinder Government economic activities. As no humanitarian exemptions were granted, the closure had a negative impact on the humanitarian response to populations, including people recently displaced from Widikum in the NW and some communities in Upper Bayang subdivision in the SW.

Humanitarian activities continue to be interrupted or delayed by insecurity, roads physical conditions, roadblocks, bureaucratic impediments, and risk of IEDs in public spaces and main roads used by humanitarians and persons in need.