The displaced communities in Cameroon are receiving support from Japan and WFP in Yaoundé.

The displaced communities in Cameroon are receiving support from Japan and WFP in Yaoundé.

The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 1.2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help 36,200 people affected by crises in Cameroon. The contribution will help WFP provide an unconditional food assistance package that includes cereals, pulses, vegetable oil and salt to internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities in the Far North, Northwest, Southwest, East, Adamawa and North regions.

Cameroon’s food security situation has drastically deteriorated due to conflict and displacement. This situation has been exacerbated by rising food prices and an increase in the frequency and severity of climatic shocks, especially in the northern regions. According to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, 2.5 million Cameroonians are expected to experience acute food insecurity between June and August this year. Over 70% of the people facing higher levels of food insecurity are in the regions affected by the crisis.

Mr Kiyohiko Ikeda, Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Embassy of Japan in Cameroon said, “This food assistance is intended to address the food insecurity of vulnerable populations who have been severely affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.” He added, “The Government of Japan has reiterated the importance of ensuring food security of crisis-hit African countries to build resilient and peaceful societies, as well as its commitment to protecting vulnerable people, including refugees and IDPs, at the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2022. This project aligns with our commitment and we will continue working closely with WFP to realize this goal.”

Since 2018, Japan has been one of WFP’s most consistent donors in Cameroon. Japan’s contributions have enabled WFP to continue providing emergency food distributions, nutrition interventions, school feeding, and recovery support to vulnerable families in need.

Wanja Kaaria, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Cameroon, expressed the importance of partners’ consistent and predictable support. She said, “This support could not have come at a more opportune time – especially when WFP is being forced to cut assistance or completely halt food assistance to refugees in Cameroon due to funding constraints.”

WFP requires US$ 57.9 million to continue their life-saving operations in crisis-affected areas of Cameroon over the next six months.