Armed conflict in NW, SW: Population bearing brunt of lockdown.

Even though the separatists are not achieving their barmy objective, the devastating impact on the population has been excruciating, especially at a time high the cost of living is a national outcry.

According to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, released last week, "food situation in the North West and South West Regions is alarming”, as the Regions, once considered the country’s food basket, have experienced higher levels of food insecurity than the Far North Region, which is frequently exposed to food crises and climate shocks.

"The proportion of the population in severe food insecurity rose markedly in both English-speaking Regions; in the North West Region by 10 percentage points and in the South West Region by 4 percentage points. 

The share of the population that is moderately food insecure increased by 12 percentage points in the North West and by 16 percentage points in the South West Region," OCHA detailed. 

The report also noted that a "total of 1.5 million people were food insecure in the North West and South West Regions, or 40 percent and 33 percent of the population of the North West and South West Regions, respectively. Of these, 312,154 people are severely food insecure”. 

"The situation has been aggravated by the conflict, which has resulted in the early depletion of household stocks, limited access to farms, and lower purchasing power due to high prices," it added. 

Another report published last July by OCHA Cameroon, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, noted that "the situation in the North West and South West Regions, continued to be characterised by the impact of insecurity and violence. 

The effects on the civilian population include, among others, loss of lives, arbitrary arrests, kidnappings for ransom and destruction of property”.

"Civilians, including humanitarians, also face constraints due to harassment or threats at checkpoints/roadblocks, and risks related to the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on axes they may use to implement activities and deliver assistance," it added. 

The report noted that 307 children with severe acute malnutrition received treatment, over 126,000 people reached with unconditional food assistance, including in-kind, cash, and multipurpose cash assistance. Health partners contributed to the provision of essential healthcare services to 26,392 people.

It explained that in July, over 588 people were reportedly displaced due to insecurity. 

"Over the course of the month, non-state armed groups announced the reopening of the Bamenda-Mbengwi road, through Alabukam, Momo Division; from July 16 onwards, after it was closed to the public for a year,” it detailed. 

On the other hand, separatists announced the imposition of movement restrictions on the Bamenda-Kumbo road, between 7p.m. and 6a.m. A one-month lockdown was also declared in the Bali Subdivision, starting from July 23, 2024. 

Healthcare continues to be targeted by separatists, with at least two incidents registered, both in the North West Region.

At least five incidents impacting humanitarian partners, were recorded in July, with four in the North West Region and one in the South West Region.

The question to the separatists causing all the harm and sufferings that get into the skin of innocent civilians and school children is, how has that helped in their utopian dream of independence?

How do they think the international community, whatever that means, can support them when they commit war crimes against them with impunity?

How will the population they claim to fight for, align with them when they have become targets, instead of their so-called "enemies" in Yaounde, who hardly feel the pinch of the atrocities in the two Regions?

Residents are living in fear, and officials protected by armed guards who are urging unarmed civilians to "terrorise the terroists" are hypocrites in their infanticide propaganda.

The Lion-hearted residents who have not fled to become refugees or Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, are living in fear. They have justification to be scared of the separatist vandals, who have no pity for them.

Separatist leaders hiding abroad and in jungles at home, should know that they are committing war crimes and must one day be answerable to them.

Government, on its part, cannot be exonerated from the sufferings of the people in the two English-speaking Regions, since it is its preponderant responsibility to protect residents and their properties. That has not been sufficiently been done, which is a task Yaounde must do, sooner than later.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3228 of Friday September 13, 2024