© Action contre la Faim
Headline
Flooding in Cameroon, the Far North is drowning
Precipitation around the historical regional average of 400 to 500 mm over 40 to 50 days.
The Far North region of Cameroon has been experiencing increasingly frequent climate shocks in recent years. Since July 2024, excessive rainfall and rising water levels in major rivers such as the Logone et Chari have worsened an already fragile situation, exacerbated by ongoing security crises, including attacks by non-state armed groups and intercommunal conflicts. The combination of these security challenges and the impacts of climate change has heightened the risk of food and nutritional insecurity among the affected communities.
These floods have significantly affected the socioeconomic and health conditions of the local populations. According to the OCHA report of 3 October 2024, the most affected departments are Mayo-Danay and Logone-et-Chari, with 198,000 and 156,000 people affected, respectively. The damage is extensive: over 67,545 households, or approximately 356,730 individuals, have been impacted; more than 56,000 houses have been destroyed; 82,509 hectares of farmland have been flooded; and 5,278 livestock lost. In the Logone-et-Chari department, the hardest-hit districts are Blangoua and Kousseri, as illustrated by the graph below.
The floods have forced thousands of people to relocate to higher ground, settling in precarious, spontaneous sites with poor hygiene conditions, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks, such as cholera.
“Some infrastructure, such as bridges and dykes, has already collapsed, which will result in large-scale population displacements. The most urgent needs are food, shelter, essential household items, and access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services. The humanitarian community and donors must urgently mobilise – this is a crisis!” Urges Pascal MAILLARD, Country Director for Action contre la Faim in Cameroon.
© Action contre la Faim
© Action contre la Faim
Coordinating the response
Given the magnitude of the situation, humanitarian actors, under the coordination of OCHA, are rallying around the “Flooding” task force and relevant sector leads. Their goal is to harmonise and provide a holistic response to the multisectoral needs, including food, shelter, NFIs, WASH kits, health, protection, and gender-related services. With financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office and the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Action contre la Faim has taken action in the affected departments.
In Mayo-Danay, Action contre la Faim is deploying its rapid response mechanism in the areas of nutrition and health, mental health, and WASH. Two mobile clinics have been dispatched to reach vulnerable and at-risk individuals in the hardest-hit communities. So far, 380 people have received curative consultations, including 249 children aged 0 to 5, 56 pregnant and breastfeeding women, and 73 elderly people. A stock of 455 WASH kits has been pre-positioned in Yagoua, the epicentre of the floods, for distribution in the coming days. Discussions with OCHA and sectoral leads continue to ensure partner actions are aligned.
In Logone-et-Chari, Action contre la Faim has initiated an emergency response mechanism to provide appropriate aid while preserving the dignity of the affected populations. This intervention took place from 19 to 21 October 2024 in the localities of Ardebe, Wayawaya, Dougoumachi, Blabine, and Blangoua Bâche, and will continue in the coming days in the Kousseri communities, with the distribution of WASH kits and the deployment of mobile clinics to improve access to primary healthcare services. In total, 670 kits have been distributed, supporting 5,985 people. Each kit includes: a box of aqua tab tablets, a perforated plastic soap dish, a one-year-old’s defecation pot with lid and backrest, a 20-litre bucket with lid and handle, a 20-litre jerrycan with lid and handle, six 400g household soap bars, and two plastic cups (1000ml and 500ml).
© Action contre la Faim
While addressing the immediate needs of the affected people is crucial, providing ongoing support to help households recover and adapt to the changing climate will also be essential in the coming months.
Cameroon
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