Geneva, 27 February 2015
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
Following the plethora of attacks orchestrated by Boko Haram in the north east of Nigeria and the Cameroon villages along the border with Nigeria, local populations have been forced to flee the massacres. These attacks have claimed many lives and caused the destruction of many important facilities (mosques and churches burned down, villages looted, farms devastated, cattle stolen, etc). Refugees from Nigeria and displaced people from the border areas started arriving in August 2014 and were registered in the councils of Mozogo, Koza, Moskota, Kolfota, Mogodé and Mora in the far-north region of Cameroon and Guider in northern Cameroon. To date 12,000 displaced are registered in the locality of Mozogo and more than 31,000 refugees have settled in Minawao. As of 24 February 2015 there has been a further significant new influx of refugees/displaced arriving in Mozogo, Koza and Moskota councils.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
The displaced people in Mozogo are being accommodated in churches, schools and in the open air. They currently have no organized assistance and are left to their own means.
The refugees in the Minawao camp are being assisted by the UNHCR. However, they are also suffering as there is a continual influx of new refugees following attacks and consequently the resources available in the camp are overstretched.
ACT member, the Eglise fraternelle luthérienne du Cameroun (EFLC) is present and well known in the areas concerned and can assist if resources are made available.
