Launch of the 2024 Cameroon Humanitarian Response Plan: the Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon requires US$371,4 million to provide lifesaving assistance and protection services to 2.3 million people

Yaoundé, 16 April 2024 – Today, the Government of Cameroon and the humanitarian community jointly launched the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The 2024 HRP outlines the needs of 3.4 million people and the requirements of US$371,4 million to provide humanitarian assistance and protection services to 2.3 million vulnerable women, girls, men, and boys in the most-affected areas, in support of government and communities’ efforts.

The HRP targets the most urgent needs driven by the impact of the Lake Chad basin conflict, the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions, the influx of Central African refugees, disease outbreaks and climate shocks. There are nearly one million internally displaced people. The country is also hosting generously nearly half a million refugees and asylum seekers. An estimated 2.5 million people will still face acute food insecurity in 2024, despite some positive trends observed in some regions.

The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is the result of a multisectoral consultative process to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs. The humanitarian response will target interventions in education, food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter and non-food items and water and sanitation.

“The renewed commitment of the whole humanitarian community and donors is urgent to address critical humanitarian needs. We must also contribute to promoting, exploring, and implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to address complex and protracted displacement effects, in cooperation with national authorities, development actors and international financial institutions,” said Mr. Siaka Coulibaly, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon.

In 2023, lack of funding has led to significant reductions in humanitarian aid for people affected by crises. Despite challenges, in 2023, humanitarian partners reached 1.2 million of most vulnerable people with various forms of humanitarian assistance in the country.

“In 2024, millions of lives depend on our continued solidarity with those in need and I urge all of us to consider how we can do more to alleviate suffering of affected populations,” Mr Coulibaly said.

Increased, timely and flexible funding of the humanitarian response plan is needed to save lives and improve the living conditions and resilience of affected populations and prevent further deterioration.

The humanitarian community renews its collective commitment and engagement for an effective, principled, inclusive, and accountable response, in support of Government’s action and to stand with people in need.

For more information, please contact:

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

Agha-Nwi Fru, Public Information Officer, OCHA Cameroon, agha-nwi.fru@un.org

Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/cameroon and https://reliefweb.int/country/cmr