A crisis in West Africa, specifically in Cameroon, is the most neglected crisis in the world, according to a humanitarian organization. This assessment is based on an analysis by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which was presented in Berlin on Tuesday. The organization’s findings indicate that Cameroon is not the only country in Africa that is experiencing a crisis that receives little to no attention, with other countries including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Mali and Uganda also being affected.
In Cameroon, an estimated 3.4 million people are in dire need of assistance and protection, with the primary causes being the consequences of climate change and violent attacks by Islamist terror organizations such as Boko Haram. Over 1.1 million people, out of a total population of around 30 million, have been displaced within the country, with an additional nearly half a million refugees and asylum seekers coming from neighboring countries and seeking protection in Cameroon. The United Nations’ refugee agency estimates that around two million people have been displaced.
The Norwegian Refugee Council has evaluated 34 conflict regions based on three criteria: inadequate funding, lack of media attention and a lack of effective international political and diplomatic initiatives. According to the organization, the humanitarian plan for Cameroon was only 45 percent funded in 2024, with $168.2 million out of the required $371 million being provided.
“Many displaced families, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities, live in isolation without legal protection or the ability to earn a living” said Hassane Hamadou, Regional Director for Central and West Africa at the NRC, in an interview with the Funke media group. This is particularly true for the outer regions of the country, such as the area around the Chad Lake. The region, which is the poorest in Cameroon, is also struggling with severe food insecurity, according to Hamadou. “The ongoing uncertainty continues to restrict access to markets and small-scale agricultural businesses, thereby undermining the ability of families to meet their basic needs.” The NRC publishes an annual list of the ten most neglected displacement crises worldwide.