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Cameroon: North-West and South-West Crisis Situation Report No. 7 - As of 31 May 2019

Countries
Cameroon
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

This report is produced by OCHA Cameroon in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued on 26 June. It covers 1-30 May 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Insecurity has forced more than 530,000 people to flee their homes. At least 444,000 people are displaced within the two regions. Continuous clashes and the burning of houses continue to cause further displacement.

• More than 380,000 people need shelter, and some 418,000 people nonfood items (NFI) assistance.

• More than 80 per cent of schools have been closed leaving over 700,000 children out of school.

• Attacks on students, parents, teachers and other education personnel are occurring regularly, with 59 attacks reported as of 31 May for the 2018-2019 academic year.

• Protection monitoring in the North-West (NW) and South West (SW) regions revealed that over 715 persons were victims of serious human rights violations.

• 26 gender-based violence (GBV) incidents were recorded this reporting period by GBV partners, including 9 cases of rape.

• 3,972 persons were reached during this reporting period with GBV prevention and response services.

• Over 27,900 people were reached with WASH activities in the NW and SW regions.

• Essential healthcare was provided to more than 8,992 persons in both regions.

1.3M People in need
820K targeted for assistance
530K internally displaced
376K People in need in host communities
330K Other people in need

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Humanitarian

More than 530,000 people have been internally displaced in the two regions, as well as in the Littoral and West Regions, as of the end of April 2019. Furthermore, in Nigeria there are over 35,800 refugees with populations engaged in pendular cross-border movements to address their security and basic material needs.
While there was some political momentum in May to resolve the conflict, high levels of insecurity persisted, and the humanitarian response continues to be in the emergency phase.
Protection remains the key humanitarian concern. Clashes continue, and civilians are at risk of being caught in crossfire.
Armed actors have continued to burn houses in several localities, especially in the NW, leaving many displaced and homeless. Human rights violations persist. There are indications that sexual violence, with a disproportionate impact on women and girls, is underreported.
Access to education is of critical concern. More than 80 per cent of schools have been closed and over 700,000 children have been forced to leave school. Attacks on students, parents, teachers and other education personnel are occurring regularly, with 59 attacks reported as of 31 May for the 2018-2019 academic year. Meanwhile, reports of the participation of children in armed groups are increasing.
The provision of healthcare remains a key challenge. Health facilities have been damaged or destroyed and many medical professionals have fled.
Humanitarian action was impeded in both regions by parties to the conflict. In NW, security forces seized humanitarian cargo, inter alia out of ‘dual’ use concerns and in SW humanitarians were detained by armed groups, in one case for several hours and in one case overnight.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.