Cameroon

Cameroon faces three large-scale, complex and protracted crises. Since 2014, the country has been experiencing influxes of refugees fleeing violent conflict in north-east Nigeria. Jihadist incursions and frequent attacks in Cameroon’s Far North region are also causing internal displacements and disrupting local agricultural production and livelihoods. Furthermore, political instability and armed conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been forcing CAR refugees into the East, Adamawa and North regions. Since 2017, the North West and South West regions have been affected by  conflict between state security forces and non-state armed groups seeking autonomy for the two English speaking regions.

The agricultural sector dominates the economy, employing 62 percent of the labour force and accounting for 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the effects of climate change, traditional agricultural practices, high post-harvest losses and fragmented markets undermine the sector’s ability to significantly contribute towards improved income, especially for smallholder farmers. Poor road infrastructure and land degradation also severely limit people’s access to sufficient nutritious food.

Despite progress, anaemia among women of reproductive age remains high, at 41.4 percent. Low birth weight remains a challenge, with 12 percent of infants born under-weight. While the country has made strides in reducing stunting and wasting, 29 percent of children under 5 are still stunted, and 4.3 percent suffer from wasting. The prevalence of stunting varies across regions, with peaks of 40.2 percent in North, 36.4 percent in Adamawa and Far North, and 32.8 percent in the East region. High malnutrition rates are primarily the result of limited consumption of nutritious food, diarrheal diseases which limit the absorption of nutrients, and limited access to safe and clean water, sanitation and health services.

Climate-related shocks, coupled with insecurity and displacements, mean food insecurity has continued to increase, with an average of 15.1 percent of families across the country having a poor or borderline food consumption score. The crises are putting pressure on the country’s natural resources and social services and worsening pre-existing vulnerabilities, with the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the situation.

Working with the Government and other partners, the World Food Programme (WFP) helps Cameroon to achieve zero hunger by responding to the immediate food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected populations in Adamawa, East, Far North, North, North West and South West regions and implementing an integrated package of interventions including activities to improve the long-term resilience of communities. With humanitarian access remaining a challenge, WFP facilitates access to hard-to-reach regions by providing passenger and cargo air services, enabling humanitarian staff and assistance to reach those in need on time.