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Cameroon + 2 more

UNHCR Cameroon Factsheet - September 2017

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Cameroon currently has 629,822 people of concern, including 235,618 Central African refugees and 90,701 Nigerian refugees.

Conclusion of registration of out of camp refugees in the Logone et Chari and Mayo Tsnaga departments of the Far North region.

ONE UN mission undertaken to the East Region. Various donors, partners and national and international media also took part.

WORKING WITH PARTNERS

UNHCR coordinates protection and assistance for refugees in collaboration with:

 Government Partners: Ministries of External Relations, Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Public Health, Women Empowerment and Family, Social Affairs, Justice, Basic Education, Water and Energy, Youth and Civic Education, the National Employment Fund and others, Secrétariat Technique des Organes de Gestion du Statut des réfugiés.

 Implementing Partners:, Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA), African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD), Agence pour le Développment Economique et Social (ADES), CAMWATER, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), FAIRMED, International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), InterSos, International Medical Corps (IMC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Plan International, Première Urgence - Internationale (PUI) and Public Concern.

 Operational Partners: ; ICRC, Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA), ASOL and Red Deporte, IEDA Relief, Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and CARE International.

 UN Agencies: WFP, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, FAO, UNESCO, IOM, UNDP and UNOCHA.

 Operational coordination: In accordance with the “Joint OCHA-UNHCR Note on Mixed Situations – Coordination in Practice” the responsibility to coordinate the overall humanitarian response in the Far North has been delegated to UNHCR. UNHCR sectors are utilized to deliver assistance to IDPs and other affected groups. All sectors are operational holding regular meetings. Each sector is led by a Government entity and co-led by UN agencies. There is also a bi-monthly UNHCR-chaired Multi-Sector Operations Team meeting in Maroua, bringing together more than 40 humanitarian partners intervening in the region. The response for Central African refugees is managed in line with the Refugee Coordination Model. Sectorial groups have been established by UNHCR, covering the whole operational area. Local authorities have been very engaged in the management of the refugee operation. UN agencies and international NGOs have been instrumental in implementing activities for Central African refugees and host populations. At the capital-level, UNHCR leads the Multi-Sector Operations Team for the Refugee Response and the national Protection Working Group, and actively participates in other relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms and the Humanitarian Country Team.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

 The security situation in the Far North region remains of concern, as attacks, incursions and kidnappings took place throughout the month, resulting in several civilian casualties. In the North-West region, two explosions occurred during the month, resulting in several injuries, followed by another bomb explosion in the Littoral region. Cameroonian authorities have strongly recommended safety and vigilance directives as the terrorist threat remains a concern.

 On 27 September in Yaounde, UNHCR organized a validation workshop as part of the process of elaborating its MultiYear and Multi-Partner (MYMP) strategy. The workshop was a continuation of the workshop that took place on 20-21 July in Yaounde, addressing a strategic, inclusive and suitable response to the situation of persons of concern to UNHCR, including host communities. Representatives from various ministerial departments, UN agencies, humanitarian and development partners, the private sector and civil society were present to validate the five main objectives of the strategy: protection delivered in line with international standards, basic service delivery capacity progressively built in collaboration with government and other stakeholders in refugee-hosting areas, to ensure that refugees and the host population have equal access to public services and infrastructure; self-reliance and social cohesion improved in refugee and IDP-hosting areas through a community-based approach to sustainable livelihoods, enhanced environmental protection and conflict management; implementing comprehensive durable solutions for the greatest numbers of refugees and IDPs; and prevention and reduction of risks of statelessness reduced.

 As part of the 2018 response planning for Nigerian refugees, UNHCR organized in Maroua on 13-14 September, a consultation workshop on the Regional Response Plan for Nigerian Refugees (RRRP 2018) living in the Far North Region. The workshop assembled over 150 participants (administrative, judicial and traditional authorities, members of the Joint Protection Committees, representatives of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and civil society actors). The objectives of the workshop was to determine and validate planning parameters and strategic objectives, as well as to review and validate sectoral response plans with contributions from all key actors.

 On 17 September, military forces surrounded the town of Kolofata for security reasons. As a result of the military operation, 43 Nigerians were arrested, of whom 8 were handed over to UNHCR, and transferred to Minawao camp after reporting the presence of their families in the camp. The remaining 35 individuals were returned to Banki on 18 September