The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocates US$ 6 million for the urgent needs of people affected by humanitarian crises in Cameroon

Yaounde, 10 January 2023 – The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Martin Griffiths, approved the allocation of US$ 6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide lifesaving and protection assistance to people affected by the humanitarian crises in Cameroon.

In 2022, the humanitarian crises affected 3.9 million people. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes and abandon their property because of violence or floods. These forced displacements increased protection risks, loss of livelihoods and food insecurity in the affected areas.

The humanitarian response in Cameroon continues to be severely underfunded, depriving thousands of people of vital humanitarian assistance. In 2022, the Humanitarian Response Plan was only 42 per cent funded. Therefore, “this allocation will support the people most in need in the Far North, North-West, and South-West regions through protection and shelter services as well as food and nutrition assistance,” stated the Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab.

The projects funded by CERF will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

In order to improve timely access to vulnerable populations and to ensure sustainability of humanitarian assistance, the concerned agencies will work in close collaboration with national NGOs which have better access to hard-to-reach areas.

“Despite the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations to access remote areas due to violence, movements impediments and poor condition of roads, partners remain mobilized to provide multisectoral assistance to the most vulnerable population,” said Karen Perrin, the Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Cameroon.

Notes to editors

About the CERF: The CERF is a humanitarian funding mechanism established in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly and is managed by OCHA to enable a more rapid and effective response to the vital needs of populations affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, or underfunded crises. In 2022, the CERF 2022 has allocated US$1.7 million for urgent response to the cholera outbreak in Cameroon.

About OCHA: The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.

For more information, please contact:

Karen Perrin, Head of Office, OCHA Cameroon, perrink@un.org

Bibiane Mouangue, Public information officer, OCHA Cameroon, bibiane.mouangue@un.org

Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int

Cameroon Humanitarian Response Plan 2022 and Humanitarian Needs Overview 2022 are available at www.reliefweb.int