To the surprise of many, Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis has missed the top position on this year’s list of the world’s most neglected crises.
This year’s edition of the annual revelation by the Norwegian Refugee Council, placed neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo at the top of the list of states whose crises lack media attention, diplomatic initiatives and financial aid.
“DR Congo,” the Council’s Secretary General, Jan Egeland said, “… is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. A lethal combination of spiralling violence, record hunger levels and total neglect has ignited a mega-crisis that warrants a mega-response”.
“Millions of families on the brink of the abyss seem to be forgotten by the outside world and are left shut off from any support lifeline,” a portion of his statement read.
Reports say DRC’s armed conflict keeps getting worse and forces around 6,000 people to flee their homes every day.
The current situation has left some 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid and protection, according to the NRC.
Though Cameroon’s crisis wasn’t first on the list of the world’s most neglected crises, it still made the list, conspicuous alongside Burundi, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Mali and others.
Contrary to the picture being painted by government with its reconstruction plan, the situation on the ground remains deplorable, with more deaths and rights violations recorded on a daily basis.
A new twist in the armed exchange between government forces and separatist militias, is the regular use of Improvised Explosive Devices.
In addition to the recent seizure of ammunition and weapons from soldiers by separatist fighters in the North West region, the crisis seems far from over.
Mimi Mefo Info
DR Congo ‘beats’ Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis to top list of world’s most neglected crises
