Cameroon Flash Update #2 - September 2024

Flooding in Cameroon’s Far North has affected over 463,000 people across five divisions, causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. At least 30 people, including four children, have lost their lives, and over 56,000 houses and 61 health facilities have been damaged. The floods have exacerbated risks for women and girls, with overcrowded settlement sites lacking basic sanitation, exposing them to higher risks of gender-based violence (GBV), including a 58% rise in child marriages and increased intimate partner violence.

In response, UNFPA has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to 1,350 people, including 812 pregnant women who received antenatal care and over 570 safe births facilitated at UNFPA-supported facilities. To address the gaps caused by damaged health infrastructure, the UNFPA-led SRH Technical Working Group has developed a plan to deploy mobile clinics in partnership with international NGOs. These clinics will ensure access to SRH and GBV services in hard-hit areas. GBV safety audits revealed significant protection risks for women and girls, and UNFPA is actively addressing these by raising awareness and working with local communities to improve safety in displacement sites.

UNFPA urgently requires US$ 1.17 million to scale up its SRH and GBV response to reach at least 129,150 individuals, primarily women and girls. This funding will support the deployment of mobile clinics, the distribution of emergency supplies, and the provision of essential healthcare and protection services in flood-affected regions.