Japan contributes additional funds for Peace and Security efforts and Humanitarian Assistance in Cameroon 

Yaounde, 10 February 2020 – The Government of Japan has announced a new contribution of over 2 million US dollars to United Nations programmes in Cameroon. Through this generous contribution, Japan renews its commitment to support internally displaced people and refugees as well as the promotion of peace and security in Cameroon. 

The assistance from the Government of Japan will reinforce the resilience and address the growing and urgent needs of vulnerable groups such as IDPs, refugees and host communities affected by crises in the North West, South West, East and the three Northern regions of Cameroon. 

“The work the United Nations organization are able to do through Japanese funding is critical to supporting these vulnerable groups. With this contribution, we would like to show our solidarity with Cameroon and the United Nations”, said H.E Tsutomu Osawa, Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon. 

Since 2015, Japanese contribution to humanitarian efforts in Cameroon has amounted to over 47 million USD. Through these contributions, UN agencies have been able to significantly reduce the vulnerability of affected populations, especially youth and women, and strengthen their capacities and empowerment. 

“Across the country today, hundreds of thousands of people need urgent assistance and protection. Attacks against civilians have increased, hundreds of thousands are displaced, Yet Cameroon remains the worst funded emergency in the continent and third worst underfunded globally. We are sincerely grateful to the Government of Japan’s continued support to our action on the ground. This contribution will enable us to reach women, men and children living in dire need, to save lives and help them recover.”, said the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Allegra Baiocchi. 

The total amount of 2.195.199 USD will be allocated to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as follows: 

• 727.272 USD for UNDP to provide support in “Contributing to early recovery efforts in the Far North, North West and South West regions through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus”. The overall objective of the project is to build the resilience of population, especially vulnerable groups, to environmental, social and economic shocks. 

• 272.727 USD for UNICEF to provide “Protection Of Children, Adolescents And Youths Against Violence, Abuse And Exploitation, And Strengthening The Resilience Of Children, Adolescents And Women Affected By The Lake Chad Basin Crisis In Mayo Sava/Far-North Region”. The activities aim to promote social stability for children affected by the Lake Chad Basin Crisis through the provision of a safe environment that protects them from harmful practices, exposure to violent exploitation in Mayo-Sava Division of the Far North region. 

• 1.000.000 USD for WFP to provide “Food assistance to the most food insecure refugees and local communities in Cameroon”. Thanks to this contribution from the Government of Japan, the most vulnerable populations affected by crises in the Far North, North, East and Adamawa regions will receive cash or food transfers to meet their immediate food needs as they build assets that will improve their livelihoods, increasing agricultural productivity and building resilience to natural disasters. 

• 195.200 USD for UNHCR to provide “Protection and Solutions for Central African Republic and Nigerian refugees in Cameroon”. Through this generous contribution, UNHCR will continue to contribute to refugees' resilience and integration into the host communities, by improving access to durable means of livelihoods for refugees and their host population in the East, Adamawa, Far North and North regions of Cameroon.