Cameroon and Boko Haram: A major humanitarian crisis is developing in the Far North Region

Many civil organizations have expressed fears that a humanitarian crisis is slowly but surely developing in the Far North region of Cameroon. Local Non-Governmental Organizations operating within the area have all raised fingers that the civilian population is most affected by the attacks regularly carried out by the Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram. With local and international media only interested in the military side of the conflict, Cameroon Concord can now reveal that the inhabitants of the localities of Hodogo, Makambara, Magdeme, Mora, Yegoua, Kolofata, Ldoutsaf, Amchide, Achighachia, Kourgui, Vreket, Tourou, Lbodan, Kousseri Fotokol, Damboré, Koubougué, Mayo-Moskota, Talakachi, Nguetchéwé , Maltam, Fima, Medina, Ldingding, Tacha Sigal, Sadigo, Woula, Kalakachi, Mallouri, Kouyape, Kidji-Gangwa, Houerbech, Leimari, Bornori, Djoudjé-Kerawa, Goldavi------ victims of attacks in recent months by Boko Haram comprising looting of livestock and crops, schools and homes, mines, rape, murder and kidnappings, live an unprecedented nightmare.

4 out of the 6 Divisions that make up the Far North region are affected by the atrocities of Boko Haram. The Far North region, reportedly one of the most populous in Cameroon with over 3.48 million inhabitants covering an area of 34,263 km2 is now facing a humanitarian disaster. Many schools have not opened since the 2014-2015 academic year. Those that have kept their doors opened are occupied by refugees fleeing Boko Haram onslaught. Essential commodities such as rice, salt, sugar, oil and milk are completely absent. The transport industry has disappeared in thin air because Boko Haram militants have regularly slaughtered many of the drivers. Cameroon Concord thinks that the government should create as soon as possible a department at the Ministry of External Relations to solicit help from the Cameroonian Diaspora in Europe, USA, Canada, Asia and Latin America.