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NW, SW, Far North: UN allocates over 3 BFCFA for persons affected by humanitarian crises.

File photo: Persons affected by humanitarian crises in Cameroon

Cameroon has been allocated US$ 6 million, a circa over 3 billion FCFA, to assist persons affected by ongoing humanitarian crises in restive parts of the country. The support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, was allocated to Cameroon at the close of last week.

It was approved by the United Nations Under-Secretary General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, USG/ERC, Martin Griffiths.

“Underfunding of humanitarian aid is depriving hundreds of thousands of people, already facing violence, displacement, disasters and epidemics, of lifesaving assistance and protection services,” the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Siaka Coulibaly said.

As of November 10, 2023, only 27 per cent of the humanitarian response plan 2023 had been funded.

“It is a cruel reality that in many humanitarian operations, aid agencies are scraping along with very little funding right at a time when people’s needs compel them to scale up. Thanks to the generosity of a vast range of donors, we can count on CERF to fill some of the gaps. Lives are saved as a result…This is a fund by all and for all”, Emergency Relief Coordinator,” Griffiths said.

Ongoing crises in Cameroon has affected 4.7 million people, including Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, returnees, refugees and asylum seekers.

The allocation from the UN, it has been disclosed, will support the most vulnerable people in hard-to-reach areas in the Far North, North West, and South West Regions.

The said populations will benefit from nutrition, shelter/non-food items, water, hygiene, sanitation assistance and protection, including gender-based violence and child protection services.

In order to strengthen timely access to vulnerable populations and sustainability of humanitarian assistance, the allocation will have a strong focus on the work of and collaboration with national NGOs in affected areas, the UN said.

The Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, it should be said, is a humanitarian funding mechanism established in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly. It is managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA.

It seeks 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 allocated US$1.7 million for urgent response to cholera outbreak in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.

OCHA advocates effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.