North-West and South-West situation report (1-31 October 2022)
No new cholera cases reported in the South-West region (SW) for two consecutive months.
Over 7,212 persons were forced to flee their homes due to clashes and violence perpetrated against civilians.
Attacks against education continue; at least eight teachers were abducted and tortured for doing their job.
At least 885,211 people in the North-West and South-West regions are in need of adequate dignified shelter.
Situation Overview / Humanitarian access
The situation in the North-West and South-West (NWSW) regions remained concerning, characterized by continued fighting between State security forces (SSF) and non-State armed groups (NSAG), among different NSAG factions, targeted attacks, destruction of property, arbitrary arrest, kidnappings for ransom, extortion of money and continued use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The population continues to suffer the consequences of violent incidents, either being targeted directly or being caught in IEDs explosions, crossfire, or military raids. Partners reported multiple displacements across the NWSW caused mainly by violence. Over 7,212 persons were reportedly displaced to nearby bushes and villages. Manyu (SW) and Bui (NW)divisions are the most affected. Most of the displacements are pendular and temporary, as displaced persons return to their homes once the security situation allows.
Since 2017, the first of October, marking the independence of the English-speaking part of Cameroon in 1961, has often been characterized by lockdowns imposed by NSAGs, heavy military deployment and mass population displacements to neighboring regions and towns. A shift in position has been observed since 2021, where NSAGs started calling on the civilian population to celebrate in their homes and remain cautious. However, the civilian population continues to live in fear and chose to stay at home on 1 October. Streets were completely deserted in both regions on this day in 2022.
There have been positive developments in the fight against the cholera epidemic in the SW. The SW regional delegation of public health reported that no new cases have been recorded in September and October consecutively, thanks to the joint efforts of the regional health authorities, and Health/WASH Clusters’ partners.
Humanitarian actors continue to operate under numerous constraints including repeated ghost towns imposed by NSAGs, harassment at different checkpoints, bureaucratic impediments, diversion of humanitarian aid, and risk of IEDs in public spaces and main roads frequented by humanitarian actors. On 29 October, a humanitarian aid worker on a field mission to Oku was kidnapped between Ndop and Oku subdivisions in the NW and only released 3 days later after intense negotiations. On 27 October, a truck transporting humanitarian supplies was intercepted by NSAGs in Boyo division, and some non-food items (NFI) kits were forcibly taken. Humanitarian access remains possible but challenging, requiring significant efforts from organisations to be able to conduct all necessary access negotiations and ensure safe humanitarian operations.
Attacks against school staff and educational premises continued. In two different incidents, eight teachers were abducted and tortured by NSAGs, one in Manyu division on 5 October and seven in Bui division on 25 October. An NSAG faction in Bui division also issued a statement threatening government schools’ teachers and cautioning parents to withdraw their children from government schools.
At least five incidents of IEDs were reported in October, planted by NSAGs and targeting SSFs.
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs