To enhance food security: Korea offers WFP 6 billion FCFA to improve livelihood in Far North.

The donation is to enable WFP to empower smallholder farmers particularly women and young people by promoting climate resilient and sustainable farming practices such as using drought resistant crops and efficient irrigation methods.

The financial aid to WFP is to enhance post-harvest management and improve storage techniques to reduce crop losses.

With deliberate efforts to be made, farmers will be connected to market opportunities to increase their income and establish value chains. 

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cameroon, H.E Nam Ki-Wook, said the donation aims to address critical challenges and foster sustainable development in the far North Region.

“Through this partnership, the Korean government aims to address these critical challenges and foster sustainable development in the region. Our contribution is intended to create long-lasting improvements in the lives of the affected communities,” Nam Ki-Wook said.

Expressing gratitude to the Republic of Korea, the Acting Country Director of WFP, Aboubacar Guindo, said: “Thanks to the generous support of the Republic of Korea, we can empower the most vulnerable to address food insecurity and build resilience against the devastating impacts of climate change and conflict”.

Aboubacar added that: “This support is more than just a lifeline for those struggling in Cameroon’s Far North Region. It is a beacon of hope for a future where communities can thrive despite the odds”.

Far North food insecurity statistics 

The Far North Region is one of Cameroon’s most vulnerable regions facing severe food insecurity with worsening climate change effects such as frequent droughts and floods, threatening agricultural production.

According to WFP, over 140,000 people in the Far North Region were impacted by floods, which devastated their homes, crops, livestock and social infrastructure between July and August 2024.

The ongoing conflict in the region has also threatened agricultural production and livelihoods. According to a March 2024 food security analysis, nearly one million people in Cameroon were projected to experience acute hunger between June and August 2024. 

In the Far North Region, 44.5% of households face inadequate food consumption, and almost 28.4% use emergency coping strategies such as reducing meals, eating less preferred food, relying on aid, or borrowing food during the period of June-August.

WFP’s focus in Cameroon 

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

In Cameroon, WFP focuses on addressing food insecurity and malnutrition through its emergency relief and recovery programmes. 

Their work in the country includes the provision of cash and food assistance to crisis-affected people, school meals to primary school children, nutrition support and services to children under five, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

The main objective of WFP is to improve school attendance and learning, enhance local agricultural productivity, improve access to nutrition, and strengthen community resilience to climate shocks. 

WFP is dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations and fostering sustainable development throughout the country and around the world.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3248 of Thursday October 03, 2024