Scores of Flood Victims Stranded in Cameroon’s Far North
President Paul Biya of Cameroon has reportedly ordered the public treasury to make available 350 million FCFA (about $558,308) in assistance to the affected persons.
Four months after devastating flooding caused death and destruction in Yagoua, the Mayo-Danay division of Cameroon’s Far North, thousands of displaced persons are stranded with no roofs on their heads.
The displaced people are left to their fate, with most doing menial jobs to make ends meet and provide for their families. Many of the IDPs are housed in the Ouro-Dabang site in one of the entrances into the town of Yagoua, according to sources from Yagoua’s local council.
“Only a few families have left the Ouro-Dabang site since they were brought there in September, while thousands of others are still waiting to be taken to another site yet to be created. The council and administrative authorities are considering the option of a permanent location on a site that would not be affected by future floods,” one source from the authority told HumAngle.
According to a Sept. 10 report, 11 fatalities, more than 200,000 affected people and over 12,500 damaged or destroyed houses were recorded in the country. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) described the current situation as extremely urgent, noting that the priority needs are foodstuffs, shelter or essential household utensils, water, hygiene and sanitation and health.
President Paul Biya of Cameroon had ordered the public treasury to make available 350 million FCFA (about $558,308) in assistance to the affected persons.
However, this amount was criticised and described as an insult to the Far North region, especially as the Cameroon government disbursed one billion FCFA (about $1,595,166) to help those affected by an earthquake in Turkey.
In Yagoua, Cameroon, thousands of people remain displaced after severe flooding four months prior. Displaced individuals, mainly at the Ouro-Dabang site, await relocation to a permanent flood-safe area. The floods resulted in 11 deaths, affecting over 200,000 people and damaging or destroying 12,500 homes.
The United Nations describes the situation as extremely urgent, with pressing needs for food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health services.
Although President Paul Biya allocated 350 million FCFA for aid, this amount was deemed inadequate, especially compared to the larger sum provided by Cameroon for international disaster relief in Turkey.
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