Humanitarian crises concern: Cameroon ranked second in the list of the world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2020 by an International NGO. Discover why
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Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an international NGO that is responding to three crisis in Cameroon. They opened their office in Cameroon in 2017 in response to the needs of people affected by violence and displacement. The office was open in 2017 in the Far North region and they later opened another office in the South West region in June 2018, and a sub-office in the North West region in March 2019. They are providing emergency assistance to internally displaced populations. They also opened a sub-office in the East region in July 2019 to provide information, counselling and legal assistance to refugees from CAR.
Each year, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) publishes a list of the ten most neglected displacement crises in the world, to shine a spotlight on those emergencies that are unseen, unheard and unknown
The methodology used by NRC is based on three criteria: lack of international political will, lack of media attention and lack of economic support. All displacement crises* resulting in more than 200,000 displaced people have been analysed – 40 crises in total.
The opening paragraph of the 15-page report reads. “Millions of children, women and men are trapped in neglected conflicts around the globe today. We do not see them, hear about them or know the horrors they experience. Political inaction is rife, international media attention is sorely lacking, and many people are left without any humanitarian assistance to meet their most urgent needs”
Cameroon is rank second after the Democratic Republic of Congo, which tops the list. Most especially the Anglophone armed conflict, three separate crises in Cameroon continued unabated in 2020, affecting almost all of the country’s ten regions. Deadly attacks and growing violence triggered massive but underreported numbers of people to flee.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the total number of new displacements nearly doubled over the year as an additional 123,000 civilians were uprooted from their homes. (The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2020 | NRC)
Highlighting the Ongoing violence in the English-speaking parts of Cameroon, NRC noted that a large-scale displacement, have mainly affected children and their right to education. The International body totalled the number of children who were out of school to at least 700,000 due to insecurity.
Adding to insecurity and continuous attacks on schools and education centres, the COVID-19 pandemic also affected the effectiveness of schools as restrictions were introduce to curb the spread of the pandemic. In 2020, Children and their teachers were harassed, kidnapped and killed. The conflict involving Boko Haram in the country’s Far North region also worsened, forcing more than 300,000 people to flee their homes. Near daily attacks were reported that included killings, kidnappings, theft and the destruction of property. The country’s refugee crisis continued in the eastern regions, with more than. Read more/download pdf copy here: The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2020 By NRC
NRC explained the reason Cameroon is placed in the second position on the list of the most neglected displacement crisis. To them, “Cameroon topped our Neglected Displacement Crises list in both 2018 and 2019, largely because of a lack of international attention. A slight rise in aid funding bumped it down from the top spot of this year’s list, but it remained severely neglected. No successful mediation efforts took place and little international pressure was placed on conflict parties to stop attacking civilians. Media attention was also limited, partly due to a lack of access for journalists to affected areas. Cameroon’s crisis showed no sign of resolving by early 2021. Attacks on civilians in the Far North region increased sharply and hundreds of homes were looted”
Below are the first ten most neglected crisis in the world as per NRC (The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2020 | NRC)
- DR Congo
The mega-crisis engulfing the Democratic Republic of the Congo warranted a mega-response in 2020. Instead, Congolese communities suffered in silence, far from the media limelight and with acutely low international support.
- Cameroon
Three separate crises in Cameroon continued unabated in 2020, affecting almost all of the country’s ten re[1]gions. Deadly attacks and growing violence triggered massive but underreported numbers of people to flee. The total number of new displacements nearly doubled over the year as an additional 123,000 civilians were uprooted from their homes.
- Burundi
2020 saw Burundi contend with the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19, increased displacement due to climate hazards, and returning refugees, all with limited assistance from the international community.
- Venezuela
Venezuelans continued to suffer under the strain of seven years of economic freefall and hyperinflation, and a 2019 political impasse ignited by the opposition-led National Assembly president declaring himself head of state.
- Honduras
A newcomer to the Neglected Crises list, Honduras was devastated by two tropical storms in 2020. This came on top of years of chronic food insecurity, criminal gangs, gender-based violence, climate change, and widespread unemployment compounded by the economic consequences of Covid-19.
- Nigeria
The armed conflict in northeast Nigeria showed no sign of ending as it entered its 12th year. Armed violence, restricted movement and attacks targeting humanitarians are hindering relief organisations from accessing people in need
- Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso was the world’s fastest growing humanitarian and protection crisis in 2020, with escalating violence doubling the number of people displaced to exceed the one million mark.
- Ethiopia
A political standoff between Ethiopia’s federal government and regional authorities in the Tigray region escalated into a full-scale conflict in November 2020. Heavy fighting resulted in mass killings, sexual violence, widespread displacement and hunger, with thousands of people seeking refuge in neighbouring Sudan.
- Central African Republic
Election unrest at the end of 2020 led to large-scale displacement and an increase in the already extreme humanitarian needs in the Central African Republic.
- Mali
The emergency in Mali has appeared on the Neglected Crises list for the last three years due to severe underfunding of the aid operation, a lack of media attention and a narrow international focus on counterterrorism. These factors remained firmly in place throughout 2020.
Read details about the original publication through the link below: The world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2020 | NRC
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Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
