Cameroon Celebrates World Refugee Day Amid Challenges

Refugees in Cameroon have demonstrated resilience and hope despite facing numerous challenges. The commemoration of World Refugee Day, spearheaded by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with Plan Cameroon and other organisations, featured dances, artistic exhibitions, film screenings by refugees, educational presentations, and more.

“Let’s fight discrimination and prejudice against refugees! They flee war, persecution, and disasters for a safe life. Together, let’s create a just and welcoming world,” emphasised Plan Cameroon.

World Refugee Day is celebrated globally every June 20th. This year’s theme is “For a world where refugees are welcomed.” Addressing the plight of refugees in conflict zones, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a reaffirmation of the world’s collective responsibility to assist and welcome refugees, uphold their human rights—including the right to seek asylum—and ultimately resolve conflicts so displaced individuals can return home.

Cameroon is home to about two million people of concern to UNHCR, including one million internally displaced persons (IDPs), 460,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, and 466,000 IDP returnees. These refugees have fled from Nigeria and Chad due to the Boko Haram insurgency and from the Central African Republic due to ongoing conflict, alongside internally displaced persons from the Northwest and Southwest regions.

The European Union highlights significant challenges faced by these populations, with food being the major issue. “In the 2024 lean season, Cameroon is seeing an increase in acute food insecurity caseload of 45% compared to the 2018-2023 average during the same season, with almost 2.5 million people projected to require emergency food assistance in the period between June and August 2024.”

Despite these difficulties, the UNHCR has facilitated the voluntary return of some refugees in the East Region from the Central African Republic.

Mimi Mefo Info