Between August 1st and September 14th, three suicide attacks took place in camps and localities hosting internally displaced people. Thirty civilians were killed and more than forty injured. These attacks are part of a significant increase in violent incidents in Cameroon’s Far North Region in recent months.
"Survivors are forced to flee, leaving everything they own behind to save their lives. Most of them have no place to sleep and almost no access to water and health care," said Fabienne Mially, from Première Urgence Internationale, lead for the Rapid Response Mechanism in the region.
"It is unacceptable that people who went through so much violence and despair are not receiving the support they need," she added. To date, the conflict in this region has resulted in the forced displacement of just over 321,886 Cameroonians and 115,000 Nigerian refugees. More than 30,000 people have lost their lives as a result of the violence.
"I had to flee one year ago when my village was attacked. I have seen how they barbarously killed some members of my family and those images are still vivid in my mind. I have lost sleep due to the nightmares," said Fatima, who is 34-years-old and pregnant. “I am alive for sure, but I can hardly feel alive," she added.
In addition to these attacks, the Far-North region has experienced very heavy rains in the past weeks, resulting in large scale floods, damaging and destroying houses, cultivated areas, roads and bridges and further reducing the access to services while emergency needs are on the rise in terms of shelters, medical care, protection and food security.
Underpinning this is the Covid-19 pandemic which has also led to significant loss of jobs and incomes in this region, marked by poverty, very limited access to social services and the prevalent insecurity.
International NGOs are providing lifesaving assistance to populations affected by the multi-faceted crisis according to the principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. INGOs remain committed to delivering principled assistance to all civilian populations affected by the on-going crisis based on need and without discrimination, in order to save lives.
We call for the protection of civilians, the respect of humanitarian principles and for an adequate response to humanitarian needs. Lifesaving activities must be facilitated through unrestricted access to populations in need and resources must be diligently mobilized to address the needs of the most vulnerable first.
