Cameroon

Cameroon hosts over 1.5 million people forcibly displaced, including over one million internally displaced persons, around 443,000 refugees and asylum-seekers - mainly from the Central African Republic and Nigeria. Most refugees from the Central African Republic live in towns and villages along Cameroon’s eastern border, while Nigerian refugees are concentrated in the Far North. Over half of the refugee population is composed by women and girls, and 55% are children. Similarly, 51% of IDPs are children, reflecting the urgent protection needs of youth across displacement settings.

Amid political instability, armed conflict, and the growing impact of climate change, UNHCR works closely with the Government and partners to respond to humanitarian needs while building pathways toward durable solutions. These include voluntary repatriation, local integration, and support for IDPs and stateless persons, guided by a strong humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach.

Despite a complex and evolving crisis landscape, opportunities remain to strengthen the protection environment. UNHCR prioritizes community-based protection, government capacity-building, and resilience-focused programming. Operational partnerships and advocacy efforts are key to delivering quality services and expanding self-reliance for displaced populations, in pursuit of sustainable, long-term solutions.