Northern regions: EU provides 318 million FCFA aid to support displaced persons, tackle food crisis.

The assistance, the statement notes, is aimed at addressing two simultaneous crises: the destruction caused by fires in February in camps for internally displaced persons in Kolofata, and a deepening food insecurity affecting thousands across the northern and eastern parts of the country. 

The funding, according to the EU, is designed to provide immediate relief while helping households cope with urgent needs.

The EU, in the release, explained that the funds will be split between the two priority areas. FCFA 154 million will support those affected by the fires, while FCFA 164 million will be directed towards tackling food insecurity.

The intervention, according to the EU, will be delivered through the Cameroon Red Cross. It targets thousands of households over a period of five months.

The statement notes that the programme will assist 3,312 households, representing over 23,000 people who are fire victims in Kolofata. 

Support, the release adds, will be delivered primarily through cash transfers, allowing families to meet essential needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, water and hygiene. 

According to the EU statement, the food security component is expected to reach around 92,600 people across the Far North, North and East regions. 

This, it detailed, includes direct financial assistance to approximately 2,100 households, alongside broader support in health, nutrition, water and sanitation services. 

In addition, agricultural assistance will be provided to about 80,000 people to help restore food production and improve resilience in affected communities.

The EU noted that the intervention will prioritise areas where food stocks have been depleted and where displacement has intensified vulnerabilities. The aim is to stabilise access to basic services while reinforcing local coping mechanisms.

The EU statement further revealed that the funding is being channelled through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, DREF, of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC.

In the statement, the head of EU humanitarian aid operations in Cameroon, David Kerespars, is quoted as having said: “The Cameroon Red Cross, thanks to its vast network of volunteers across the country, is among the first organisations to assess and respond to the needs of populations affected by crises. This assistance from the European Union therefore enables it to support victims and improve the living conditions of households”.

On his part, IFRC country head, Adesh Tripaghee is said to have described the EU contribution as critical, noting that the operation requires close monitoring given the risk of additional shocks, including the upcoming flood season and external geopolitical pressures.

It emerged from the statement that the latest support forms part of the European Union’s broader humanitarian engagement in Cameroon, which has seen significant financial allocations in recent years to assist vulnerable populations facing recurrent crises, including food insecurity, displacement and natural disasters.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3755 of Thursday April 09, 2026