UN Warns of Humanitarian Aid Suspension for Half a Million Refugees in Cameroon

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it will be forced to suspend life-saving humanitarian aid for half a million refugees and vulnerable people in Cameroon by the end of August unless urgent funding is received. The WFP, which provides food assistance to 523,000 people in Cameroon, has been cutting back operations due to a lack of resources. Refugees in the Gado Camp in eastern Cameroon are now receiving only half of their daily food needs, forcing families to adopt negative coping strategies such as skipping meals or selling their belongings to afford food. The WFP has already stopped assistance for 26,000 refugees in the Minawao refugee camp in the north, and its country director warns that without immediate funding, children will go hungry, families will suffer, and lives will be lost.

Key Takeaways:

• The WFP requires €57 million in emergency funding to sustain humanitarian assistance through January 2026.
• Over 523,000 people in Cameroon rely on WFP for food assistance.
• Refugees in the Gado Camp are receiving only half of their daily food needs, forcing families to adopt negative coping strategies.
• The WFP has already stopped assistance for 26,000 refugees in the Minawao refugee camp in the north.
• Djaounsede Madjiangar, WFP regional office for West and Central Africa spokesperson, notes that conflicts, climatic shocks, and rising cost of living are behind the crisis.
• Around 2.6 million people in Cameroon are facing "acute food insecurity" between June and August 2025.
• The country's population is approximately 31 million.
• Cameroon has overtaken Burkina Faso on the 's list of the world's most neglected displacement crises.
• Refugees are fleeing multiple crises, including the Lake Chad basin conflict, ongoing violence, and instability from neighboring countries.

Statistics:

• €57 million: The amount of emergency funding required by the WFP to sustain humanitarian assistance through January 2026.
• 523,000: The number of people in Cameroon relying on WFP for food assistance.
• 26,000: The number of refugees in the Minawao refugee camp who have had their assistance stopped.
• 2.6 million: The number of people in Cameroon facing "acute food insecurity" between June and August 2025.
• 6%: The increase in the number of people facing food insecurity compared to the same period a year ago.
• 31 million: The population of Cameroon.
• Half a million: The estimated number of refugees and vulnerable people who will be affected by the aid suspension.

Sources:

• Radio France Internationale (RFI) - "UN warns of humanitarian aid suspension for half a million refugees in Cameroon"
• United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) - Statement on humanitarian aid suspension in Cameroon
• Cadre Hamronise - Tool used to identify areas at risk of food insecurity and famine