Violence in Far North Displaces Over 1,600 People, Mostly Women and Children

Recent violence in Cameroon’s Far North region has displaced more than 1,600 people around Makary and Waza, according to figures reported by local authorities.

The displacements stem from an attack on the night of September 16–17 in Madegoua, where ISWAP militants killed 14 people and injured two in an attack.

The incident forced several families to abandon their localities to seek refuge in areas considered safer. Initial census operations report 1,617 displaced persons, mainly women, children, and the elderly.

At the same time, more than 300 other people are said to have reached Maroua within a single night. In Waza, some schools and some public spaces have been transformed into reception sites.

Living conditions there remain difficult for many families, who are faced with a lack of potable water and food, among other challenges. The displacement affects several villages, including Samké, Ndjikina, Malia, Mada, Layola, Toukoumaya, Choloba, Zigagué, and Bilé Kotoko.

Given the scale of these movements, humanitarian needs are mounting: food, water, shelter, and medical care. The situation, therefore, calls for a rapid strengthening of assistance to families forced to flee the violence.