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Cameroon

UNFPA Cameroon Situation Report #26 - December 2024: The humanitarian crisis remains a critical concern

Attachments

Highlights

● Conflicts, activities of non-state armed groups, recurrent climate shocks, and the resulting displacement continue to generate humanitarian needs, particularly in the Far North, North West, and South West regions.

● Flooding in the Far North region has impacted over 448,000 people during the previous months, compounding existing challenges.

● UNFPA provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services to 21,155 people, including distribution of dignity kits to vulnerable women, maternal and child health care, nutrition support and adolescent and youth SRH care, across the Far North, North West and South West.

● Dr Sennen Hountoun, regional director of UNFPA West and Central Africa, paid a high level advocacy visit from 9 to 15 November, advocating for increased investment in humanitarian preparedness to address climate fragility.

Situation Overview

In November 2024, the Far North region of Cameroon faced a devastating combination of severe flooding and persistent insecurity. Attacks against civilians, including killings and stealing, were reported around Mokolo and in Mayo-Tsanaga department. Meanwhile, despite heavy rainfall having stopped across the region, widespread flooding continues due to rivers overflowing, impacting over 448,000 people and causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land. This has led to displacement, food insecurity, and increased health risks for vulnerable populations already struggling with insecurity.

The floods have further complicated the humanitarian response, hindering access to those in need, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, and causing a cholera outbreak in Maroua. Despite these challenges, the government, local authorities, and humanitarian actors are providing essential assistance, including shelter, food, water, and health care. However, ongoing response to address the immediate impacts of the floods is limited and strategies to build long-term resilience in the face of recurring climate shocks and insecurity are much needed. In the North West and South West regions, separatists and government forces clashed repeatedly, resulting in casualties among security entities.