1.9 Million Children in Cameroon Urgently Need Humanitarian Aid, UNICEF Reports

A recent report by UNICEF reveals that 1.9 million children in Cameroon are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, reflecting the deepening crises affecting the country. Published on August 12, 2024, and highlighted during the World Humanitarian Day celebrations on August 19, the report paints a grim picture of the humanitarian landscape in Cameroon, where 3.4 million people, including 2.1 million forcibly displaced persons, require urgent aid.

Under the theme “Acting for Humanity,” UNICEF Cameroon used World Humanitarian Day as a platform to call attention to the challenges faced by these vulnerable populations, particularly children aged 0 to 17 years. The organization emphasized that the situation is driven by “complex and multifaceted crises” across nine out of ten regions in Cameroon. According to the report, “Nine out of ten regions in Cameroon are affected by three protracted humanitarian crises: the Lake Chad basin conflict, the North West and South West crises, and the impact of the influx of thousands of refugees from the Central African Republic.”

In response to these challenges, UNICEF launched the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon on April 16, seeking $371.4 million to provide life-saving assistance. However, as of July 19, only 23% of the required funds had been secured. This significant shortfall has severely limited the organization’s ability to deliver crucial services such as emergency education, malnutrition treatment, access to safe water and sanitation, primary healthcare, vaccinations, and psychological support.

Despite the funding challenges, UNICEF expressed its gratitude to key donors, including the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), for their contributions.

The report further details the dire humanitarian and security situation in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. Ongoing violence, targeted attacks on aid workers, and widespread disruptions to daily life have compounded the difficulties in delivering aid. “Humanitarian workers are at a heightened risk, making it difficult for them to provide the essential services to populations in need,” the report states, highlighting the increased dangers faced by those attempting to deliver aid in these conflict zones.

The precarious situation is further exacerbated by the political tensions surrounding the upcoming 2025 presidential elections. The report mentions that humanitarian workers have faced kidnappings during routine registration exercises due to suspicions that these activities were related to civic registration in the lead-up to the elections. This risk is expected to escalate as the elections approach.

UNICEF Cameroon has issued an urgent call for more humanitarian donors to step up their support, stressing the increasing number of children in need, particularly in regions heavily impacted by ongoing crises and disease outbreaks. Without additional funding, the organization warns that millions of vulnerable children may continue to suffer without access to the essential services they desperately need.

Mimi Mefo Info