Humanitarian Concerns Grow as Minawao Refugee Camp Population Surges

The escalating number of refugees in Cameroon’s Minawao Refugee Camp, located in the Far North region, has prompted deep concern among humanitarian organizations as it exceeds the threshold of 77,000.

The alarming increase in the refugee population at the Minawao camp is deeply concerning to humanitarian organisations working in Cameroon’s Far North. Established in 2013, approximately 70km from the Nigerian border, the camp was intended as a temporary solution to accommodate victims of Boko Haram attacks.

However, it continues to exist, now accommodating far more people than its capacity allows. Reports from humanitarian organisations indicate that the camp’s population has surpassed 77,000 refugees, straining resources and hindering efforts to meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education.

In September 2023, the Minawao camp saw approximately 5,000 new arrivals, a tenfold increase compared to previous influxes, predominantly from neighbouring Nigeria. These refugees are fleeing either the violence wrought by Boko Haram attacks or the worsening economic conditions exacerbated by the depreciation of the Nigerian Naira.

NGOs and humanitarian organisations warn of dire consequences if aid to the area is not increased promptly. The last aid distribution to the camp occurred in March 2024, and since October of the previous year, the assistance provided has barely covered the basic needs of half the refugee population.

According to refugee organisations, Cameroon registered 2,196,969 internally displaced persons in 2023, with the UNHCR documenting 475,729 as refugees and 9,240 as asylum seekers among the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

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