UN body laments deteriorating humanitarian situation in Anglophone regions

As of June 2019, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs says some 530.000 people have been displaced in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon since the conflict erupted in 2016.

The body stressed that the humanitarian situation keeps deteriorating with incidents of killings, abductions and wide spread violation of international humanitarian laws.

On the distribution of humanitarian gifts to needy persons, the report indicated that some 112.l,962 beneficiaries including internally displaced persons and host communities have benefited from the largesse. In the distribution process, the South West has benefitted more than the North West region, the report said.

At least 1.3 million people are in need of assistance because of the crisis, the organization revealed.

The UN humanitarian affairs office meanwhile reported that areas where insecurity is high, the people benefit less from humanitarian bodies given that access to such places are limited.

They have frowned at both separatist fighters and government soldiers who they say do not provide access to humanitarian workers in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.

One thousand six hundred and thirty children have had access to psychosocial support, the body revealed in the recent report. Meanwhile, ninety-two new gender-based violence cases have been reported, they said.

According to the report released Tuesday, the situation in the Anglophone regions remains tense with national and international actors that have been mounting pressure on both the separatist fighters and the government to call for a ceasefire and to initiate a peace process.

The Humanitarian affairs office while quoting the Social Democratic Front political party, SDF said violence has intensified in the regions after the visit of Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute. The report pointed out that violence remains high in the month of June with communal confrontations, targeted killings, harassments and abductions have also continued.