259,145 Central African refugees registered by UNHCR in rural areas in the East, Adamaoua and North regions, of which 158,418 arrived since December 2013.
86,900 Nigerian refugees in the Far North region (of which 60,157 are registered at Minawao camp)
198,889 Internally Displaced Persons in the Far North region (sources: DTM by IOM as of October 2016 and UNHCR protection monitoring Flash Updates)
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi, undertook a mission to Cameroon from 15-16 December. The purpose of the mission was within the wider context of the HC’s mission to countries in Lake Chad Basin region to take stock and assess the humanitarian situation of Nigerian refugees. On 15 December, in Minawao camp, the High Commissioner was able to see the various infrastructures and services put in place to assist the over 60,000 refugees; to meet with families seeking safety in Cameroon and with the Central Refugee Committee and community leaders. The High Commissioner expressed appreciation for the efforts made by UNHCR and its various partners to ensure the protection and assistance of refugees. He also stressed that additional efforts are being made by UNHCR and its partners to raise the quality and living conditions of the refugee population, and to facilitate voluntary repatriation, should they express this wish and should conditions prove conducive for return, in safety and dignity.
On 16 December, in Yaoundé, the High Commissioner co-chaired, together with the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) of Cameroon, the launch of the Regional Refugee Response Plan 2017 (RRRP) for Nigerian Refugees being hosted in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The 2017 Nigeria RRRP, which involves 36 partners (UN agencies, national and international NGOs), appeals for approximately USD 241 million for a target population of over 450,000 people (refugees, host populations and displaced persons). The sectors concerned are protection, education, food security, health and nutrition, livelihoods and the environment, shelter and non-food products, water, hygiene and sanitation.
The High Commissioner, in his remarks at the launch event, also noted that the situation of Central African refugees remains worrying and should not be forgotten. He mentioned the fact that the financial needs for Central African refugees are higher than those of Nigerian refugees in UNHCR's own funding forecasts.
In Cameroon, the High Commissioner met with various governmental authorities including the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, the Minister of MINATD and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also held a joint meeting with the United Nations Coordination Team (UNCT) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), before meeting with UNHCR staff. - The security situation in the Far North region is relatively calm; no major incidents were reported in December.
However, insecurity remains a major concern as some 510 new Nigerian asylum seekers were registered at Gourounguel transit center coming from Maiduguri, the local government villages of Bama in Nigeria and from some localities in the Far North region where they had found refuge. They claim to be fleeing insecurity, terrorist threat, difficult living conditions and to be reunited with family members in Minawao camp. A total of 1,714 new asylum seekers also arrived in Kerawa and Kolofata during the week of 12 December, with 3,000 internally displaced persons settled in the village of Afade. Registration and emergency assistance for these populations are underway despite the major challenge of the difficult access to asylum due to the security measures in place in the region. - The Central African Republic continued to witness clashes between anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka, resulting in the arrival of some 53 new asylum seekers from Bangui, Boda and Yaloké to Garoua Boulaï in the East region. They were screened and provided with assistance.