Cameroon
Flood, 16 Oct 2024
| Allocation | $4,000,021 |
|---|---|
| Emergency type | Flood |
| Window | Rapid Response |
| Recipient UN Agencies | FAO, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO |
| Group(s) of people targeted | Host communities, Returnees, Internally displaced persons, Other affected persons |
| People reached | 186,888 |
| Status | Report Available |
| Due dates | | |
| Allocation code | CERF-CMR-24-RR-1427 |
| Title | CERF Rapid Response: Cameroon 2024 (Floods) |
Overview of the humanitarian situation
The Far North region of Cameroon was hit by torrential rains starting mid-July, leading to floods in 29 of the 47 districts, covering 62% of the territory. As of early October, more than 356,000 people were affected. Approximately 56,000 houses were destroyed, and 82,509 hectares of agricultural land were flooded, with more than 5,200 livestock lost, raising concerns about agricultural production and food security. About 65 health centers and 263 schools were impacted, interrupting access to these essential services. The departments of Mayo-Kebbi and Logone-et-Chari accounted for 99% of the affected population, with around 198,000 and 156,000 people impacted, respectively. As a consequence, the vulnerability to health increased, vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly were exposed to protection risks, and the population's vulnerability to epidemic diseases, particularly diarrheal diseases, cholera, and epidemic malaria, was exacerbated. In addition the floods, combined with pre-existing food insecurity, forced households to adopt negative coping mechanisms, worsening the severity of food and nutritional security.
CERF-funded assistance
In response to the crisis, the Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated $4 million from CERF’s Rapid Response window. This funding enabled UN agencies and partners to provide emergency, life-saving assistance to almost 189,000 people in the Education, Food Security (including Agriculture), Health, Shelter and Non-Food Items, and WASH sectors.
CERFs Strategic Added Value
The CERF allocation brought significant added value to the humanitarian response in Cameroon. It enabled timely interventions across sectors, addressing urgent needs. In education, CERF supported anticipatory actions and ensured timely resources to meet the pressing needs of affected children. In the WASH Sector, while gaps remained in disability inclusion, CERF-funded activities highlighted the need for resilient infrastructure adapted to increasingly harsh climatic conditions. For UNHCR, CERF facilitated access to isolated areas through logistics like river transport, supported environmentally conscious practices, and promoted community involvement—strengthening local ownership and social cohesion. The development of displacement sites, such as Tildé, followed safety standards, reducing risks. In food security, CERF funding enabled WFP to act swiftly in coordination with key stakeholders, improving inter-cluster collaboration and avoiding duplication. Despite challenges like access constraints and lack of documentation, CERF-supported actions ensured efficient targeting and delivery. Overall, CERF strengthened multi-sectoral coordination, improved planning, and enhanced visibility, which helped mobilize additional resources and advocate for sustained emergency funding.
Projects included in this allocation
| Organization | Project title | Code | Amount in US$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHO | Emergency health assistance to flood-affected populations in the Far North region of Cameroon | CERF-CMR-24-RR-WHO-34073 | US$799,997 | Read more |
| WFP | Food Security Emergency Response to mitigate the effects of floods in the Far North Region of Cameroon | CERF-CMR-24-RR-WFP-34074 | US$460,000 | Read more |
| FAO | Emergency response to improve food security for vulnerable people affected by flooding in the Logone et Chari department of Cameroon | CERF-CMR-24-RR-FAO-34075 | US$460,000 | Read more |
| UNICEF | Integrated WASH and Education emergency response to the floods in the Far North of Cameroon | CERF-CMR-24-RR-CEF-34076 | US$1,359,997 | Read more |
| UNHCR | Comprehensive Protection Solutions: Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items for Flood-Affected Forcibly Displaced Persons in the Far North Region of Cameroon | CERF-CMR-24-RR-HCR-34078 | US$920,026 | Read more |