The Cameroon Red Cross Society, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is delivering emergency cash assistance to families facing food insecurity in Cameroon’s Far North Region, according to a press release by IFRC. The initiative enables households to purchase food, clothing, and other essentials while supporting local markets. It is part of a broader emergency response combining livelihood support, community-based food security initiatives, and malnutrition prevention. In 2026, nearly 2.9 million people in Cameroon are facing food insecurity. Cash assistance is emerging as a central tool to help affected families reclaim autonomy and stabilize their daily lives.
In the North, Far North, East, North-West, and South-West regions, climate shocks, conflict, and population displacement continue to undermine people’s livelihoods. Floods have destroyed farmland, rainfall has become increasingly erratic, and harvests are no longer sufficient to support families. Many households have been forced to reduce meals, sell belongings, or rely on relatives and neighbors to survive. Others have been displaced by violence and now depend on host communities. These overlapping crises have created widespread and persistent food insecurity.
To respond, the Cameroon Red Cross Society and the IFRC are implementing a 9.6 million Swiss franc Emergency Appeal. To date, 1.6 million Swiss francs have been mobilized, enabling an integrated response across affected regions. The support combines cash assistance, livelihood restoration, food security initiatives, and malnutrition prevention. Cash transfers allow households to decide their own priorities, whether buying food, clothing, medicines, or meeting other essential needs. At the same time, they support local traders and markets.
Fadimatou, a farmer in the Mayo-Danay Division whose fields were destroyed by floods two years ago, described the impact of the assistance.
“Thanks to the money, I have just received, I can buy food to feed my children, especially red millet, our favourite meal. I’ll also be able to buy them some clothes. Today, I finally have a choice,” she said. In Mokolo, Zidang, who fled violence in her village with her children, has also received cash assistance.
She will be able to purchase millet, vegetables, and sleeping mats for her family.
The Emergency Appeal is structured around three phases: saving lives through cash assistance, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening long-term resilience against future shocks. Despite the CHF 1.66 million already mobilized, the appeal still faces a funding gap of CHF 7.94 million. This shortfall limits the ability to extend assistance to the many households still facing food insecurity in the Far North Region. Additional funding would allow cash assistance to reach more families and communities. The response aims to help people overcome the current crisis and better withstand future shocks.
