Children have been making posters to raise awareness of the need for better hygiene

9 May 2012: Poor hygiene and lack of sanitation are one of the biggest challenges for communities in Cameroon, leading to outbreaks of life-threatening diseases such as cholera.

In the North West region of Cameroon, the council of Bafut is made up of 6 main villages. Last year, these communities suffered a severe outbreak of cholera affecting over 200 people and resulting in 8 deaths.

As part of the ‘one household, one latrine’ initiative, Plan - in collaboration with the Centre for Low Cost Water Supply and Sanitation (CREPA) - have begun a campaign to highlight the need to practise good hygiene and safe sanitation.

By using door to door awareness raising methods, the project is raising awareness of the importance of clean water and hand washing when it comes to preventing disease.  So far 48 new latrines have been built in Bafut, increasing the number of households with a toilet to 71% and reducing open defecation in the area by 65%, thereby limiting the risk of water-borne diseases like cholera from spreading.

Setting up hygiene committees

To ensure that such improvements continue, an action plan has been put in place by the communities including monthly cleanup days where people come together to clean their villages.  A campaign to put toilets in the market and in schools is also underway.

According to Mforbang Cornelius, President of the local Hygiene and Sanitation Committee: “The villagers agreed to put an end to open defecation. We have now instituted monthly hand washing and water purification awareness days and we are also lobbying with the council for the provision of more latrines, clean drinkable water sources and the need to take action against perpetrators of open defecation’’.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon

Through the Savings and Loans Associations, members can set up small businesses and save their income

9 May, 2012: In Cameroon, poor households can struggle to meet basic needs such as food, water, housing or education. Less than 1% of households are able to get a loan from a bank and only 3.5% of the rural population has access to microfinance services.

For minority communities, meeting basic needs can be even more difficult as financial help or support is very often not offered to them at all. In Mayos, a small town in the East region of Cameroon, a large group of Baka people lives there but with no microfinance systems set up, the community members are struggling to provide for their families and put their children through school.

As part of a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) project, Plan has introduced a process whereby everyone has an equal opportunity to take out a loan and save income in order to look after their families in times of need.

"Everyone in our group is at the same level and under the same rules, we are all equal. This is what is fair and right for the governance of our group," explains Georgette, the President of one of the two savings and loans group in the community.

To maintain economic security the members of the group save as much as they can a month, allowing them to manage small businesses and help each other in times of bereavement and illness. Most importantly however, it gives them the opportunity to send their children to school.

'' The money I saved allowed me to set up my business selling doughnuts,'' said Cecilia, a member of the VSLA group.

By empowering women through economic security, the scheme is helping to contribute to gender equality in the community.

'' Before, the Baka women just lived from day to day in the house. Today, we can save and manage small businesses and household problems,'' said Georgette.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon

With these mobile health clinics, more parents and children can get specialist medical help

24 February, 2012: In the Eastern region of Cameroon, in a small community called Ndoumba Olinga, the current rate of infant and child mortality is starting to decline thanks to the help of Plan and partners.

Along with Daiichi Sankyo-Ranbaxy, a Japanese pharmaceutical company , Plan has been supporting the Mobile Clinic Project which aims to provide vital health care to rural communities in areas without proper facilities.

Staff in 56 communities in Eastern Cameroon are being trained in the areas of:

• Childhood illness and how to prevent diseases such as malaria
• Nutritional supplementation for children and families
• Health care for pregnant women and mothers with newborn children

The mobile clinics, which have been in place since April 2011, have already seen considerable results. ''Before there were fewer than 10 women and children visiting health centres. Today, there are more than 50 patients per day and the number of deaths of children in this community has dropped from 3 children a month to 1,” explains Severin Vondo, head of the health centre in Ndoumba-Olinga.

In three months, a total of 261 children were examined at the Ndoumba-Olinga mobile clinic; out of these, 46 were badly malnourished and so their families were provided with the appropriate nutritional advice and care.

According to one member of the community: “Before the mobile clinic, each time I went to the health centre I had to travel 15km just to get information on the availability of vaccinations for my community. Very few people went to the health centre as it was just too far away. But since the arrival of the mobile clinic, each month the health centre agents come to our village to provide our community with health care.”

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon

Plan aims to reach almost half the population of Cameroon with life-saving bed nets

20 December, 2011: In Cameroon malaria often takes the lives of the most vulnerable, especially children. Over the months to come, Plan and partners will be distributing more than 8.6 million long lasting insecticidal bed nets to families, one net for every 2 people.

Plan aims to have reached almost half of the population by the end of 2012. With over 2 million reported cases of malaria each year in Cameroon, it is one of the biggest causes of illness and can often lead to death.

In Africa, malaria is a leading cause of child mortality, and takes the life of a child every minute.  By sleeping under long lasting insecticidal nets, the chances of being bitten by a mosquito at night are greatly reduced, in turn reducing the spread of malaria.  It’s estimated that when 80% of people sleep under a net, the entire community is protected.

Plan in action

Distribution began in the ten worst affected regions of Cameroon, particularly in the North, in November this year.

This month, Plan is reaching out to the village of Mankanikong in the North West region and Tcholliré in the North, distributing bed nets there and encouraging families to have possible symptoms of malaria checked out at health clinics.

By setting up bed net distribution points at health centres and encouraging families to get more information about how to protect themselves and their children, Plan is playing a crucial role in the fight against this preventable disease.

Already, in partnership with The Global Fund, Plan and the Ministry of Health have distributed over 5 million long lasting insecticidal bed nets to communities across Cameroon.

“With these bed nets, I am sure my family will no longer suffer from malaria”, said one woman after receiving her net from the Ngaoundéré urban health centre.

Read more about Plan Cameroon and the Global Fund

Children in Cameroon receiving new school kits

20 December, 2011: Despite free primary education and free access to secondary school in Cameroon, many children lack access to education due to their family circumstances, low awareness of the importance of education among parents and the remoteness of schools.

Those children who do go to school, are often embarrassed and even sent home if they do not have equipment to use in the lesson. Many families cannot afford school books, pens and other materials, so children are left without education.

''Every day the teacher would ask me to go home and I cried. Only children who had a book were allowed in class'', said Mendomo, a young girl from Olanguina community.

To try to overcome this, and to encourage more children to go to school, Plan has set up a school awards system providing more than 5,500 children across Cameroon with text books, writing equipment, dictionaries and games for after class.

''Now I am happy that the teacher will no longer send me home'', Mendomo said after being helped by Plan and returning to school with her new school bag.

Encouraging children

By providing such materials, Plan is encouraging children to go back to school and get the education to which they are entitled. With this equipment, children no longer feel embarrassed to go to school without a pen or paper, and can enjoy break times with their friends using the games and footballs.

’’This bag with all these books will really help and I am encouraged to work hard and make good use of these books’’, said Angela, a 10-year old girl from Olanguina..

Teaming up

Plan and some of the local councils have teamed up to boost pupils’ academic performance, increase children’s success rates and above all raise the whole community’s awareness of the importance of educating girls.

‘’Plan understands that children are our future and the future of children is education,” said Foumena Andre, Mayor of Olanguina Council. ”Through this gift, Plan has demonstrated its commitment and determination to improve the education of our children’’, he concluded.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon

Football legend Roger Milla and Plan Cameroon's country director, Famari Barro

4 November, 2011: Former national football star Roger Milla has teamed up with Plan Cameroon to show his support for our work in the country and help explore ways of developing education, sport and culture for young people.

Plan Cameroon has been working with the government to improve access to education and health care over the past decade. This work has not gone unnoticed by the football icon who has his own foundation ‘Coeur d’Afrique,’ focusing on education and health care opportunities for children and orphans living with HIV/ AIDS.

Working hand in hand

Working together, Plan and Roger Milla hope to change the lives and health of children across the entire country.  According to Milla: “Coeur d'Afrique is a pan-African organization that currently promotes healthier school environments and it’s important to partner with Plan which is a renowned organization and has expertise in the areas of education, health and water and sanitation”.

The former football star’s commitment to children has not gone unnoticed by Plan either. Child protection and human rights are two of the most important issues that Plan works on.  By working together on the same issues we could really push forward in the right direction.

''Roger Milla recognises that Plan is extremely knowledgeable about community development and, for maximum effect, we aim to join forces, particularly on education and birth registration'', Plan Cameroon’s country director, Famari Barro, explained.

A young girl sensitises the public on why she thinks it is important to protect children after a disaster

As part of International Disaster Risk Reduction Day on October 13, Plan Cameroon organised a series of activities including a conference in Yaoundé. For Plan, this was an occasion to present how vulnerable children are during a crisis or disaster, as well as the chance to recommend an effective policy to protect and care for children at such times, and review their participation in disaster risk reduction.

Opened by Famari Barro, the Country Director of Plan Cameroon, the conference hosted more than 50 people from partner organisations such as UNHCR and the Red Cross who showcased their important work to protect children at times of disaster including outbreaks of deadly diseases like cholera. 

"Cholera has claimed many lives in my community and continues to do us harm. Two mothers have died and left their babies. Today, poor children are without families. They have no mother to care for them,"said Bintou, 15, from Briqueterie.

As disasters continue to take lives in Cameroon, particularly cholera, children are often left with no family and no safe place to go to when a disaster strikes in their community. Plan Cameroon and partners have been working hard to provide support and protection to children who have been most affected.

“We held the workshop to show everyone the strategies we can put in place in order to reduce disaster-related risks. We believe that today’s debate will make people realise what we can do and how we can support and protect those who are vulnerable, particularly children,” declared Famari Barro.

Celebrations

International Disaster Risk Reduction Day was also marked in Cameroon by various activities organised by Plan and local communities, including village fairs held by local high schools in the Littoral region, the handing out of gifts in Northern and Eastern Cameroon, and the visit to some of the sites most at risk of natural disaster, including Lake Monoun in the West region.

Local children taking part in a radio broadcast to raise awareness about the spread of cholera

October 17, 2011: As cholera continues to take lives in Cameroon, Plan - with the support of the local government -has launched a ‘cholera-free school’ initiative to teach children and teachers about the importance of keeping the school environment clean, and how crucial personal hygiene is to stop the spread of cholera.

Spreading the word

This school initiative has now been extended to families and communities, where children promote simple, basic practices to keep clean and reduce the risks of spreading deadly diseases such as cholera. The children are teaching the importance of constant hand washing, and how to boil water before consumption and they feel confident that such simple steps will reduce the spread of cholera in their communities and potentially save lives. ‘’Our parents are the cause of this cholera because in the farm they just eat without washing their hands when we tell them, they say that it is what makes them grow stronger every day,” said Nicoline, a child representative at a ‘cholera-free school’ session in  the lower Bafut region.

Children in local church groups also come together to promote cleanliness and hygiene by creating posters and leaflets on personal hygiene and performing short plays. To maximize the health sensitization, children are now also participating in live broadcasts on the radio as guest speakers. In Buea, in the South West region of Cameroon, Plan supported local children to become reporters, collecting images and interviews from schools and communities to highlight the importance of hygiene and sanitation.

Health education classes are available too focusing on the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of cholera. With the motto ‘practice makes perfect,’ people are made aware of how important it is to reduce the risks of cholera, and what to do if someone does contract the disease. These simple skills can help save thousands of lives throughout Cameroon.

Children’s help

Giving children the responsibility and awareness of protecting themselves and their families is important in reducing the risks of cholera, and teaching them about personal hygiene and sanitation is most effective when carried out at school. ‘’The children play a vital role in urging their parents to dig their own toilets following the model built by Plan. They equally contribute in the fight against cholera by carrying out their responsibilities in keeping the compound clean and respecting basic hygiene rules like properly washing hands and fruit before eating’’ said Bih Solange, from the Manji  Children’s Forum.

So far, more than 2000 school children have been involved in reducing the impact of the outbreak in the 7 regions where Plan is currently responding.

A local man standing with his new, hygenic latrine

September 22, 2011: Relief. It is the first thing that hits you upon visiting Bafut and talking to the residents.

Bafut in the North-West region was particularly hard hit by the cholera epidemic with more than 100 cases reported.  Plan has been responding in the village, 22 km from the regional capital, by raising awareness about the disease and distributing medicines including Oral Rehydration Salts.  However, with cases still being reported, Plan worked with Bafut and other communities on a new tactic to stop cholera: building community latrines.

Many communities in Cameroon continue to practice open defecation, especially in areas where access to potable water is scarce. Water is collected from open wells and/or rivers. Rains carry stools into these open and unprotected water sources, and people are exposed to cholera. Currently, only 18% of the population in Bafut has access to appropriate latrines and most are not aware of basic hygiene practices such as properly washing hands before eating or boiling water before drinking. Combined, these create the perfect conditions for the rapid spread of the cholera epidemic.

Sadly, lack of education and traditional beliefs also contribute to the devastating impact of cholera in Bafut. Winifred, a resident, forcefully states the reasons behind the epidemic, “There is nothing like cholera in Bafut, they are witches and wizards manifesting and we know them all.”

Reducing the threat of Cholera

In communities like Bafut, Plan explains the benefits of latrines in the fight against cholera. How improved hygiene can work to reduce or even eliminate the occurrence of the disease. Then, a demonstration latrine is constructed from which the community makes decisions about materials and locations for their latrines. Community members then build their own latrines using their own resources, labor and materials such as tarches which minimizes the cost of zincs, often seen as an obstacle by the communities.

Plan adopted this approach to quickly inspire radical changes in behaviour to combat cholera. Involving people in building their own latrines while conducting intensive campaigns on prevention of the epidemic, has enhanced the community understanding and fostered the promotion of good health amongst children in particular and the community in general.

“Constructing demonstration latrines facilitates the understanding of sanitation issues linked to cholera. We push people to respect their environment by adopting better habits and comply with basic hygiene practices’’, said Plan Project Coordinator Valentine Manah.

Since the programme started in July, 154 families in the communities of Butang, Ntingoh, Mbakong, Nchoho and Ndung in lower Bafut have adopted the practice and have built low cost latrines out of mud bricks.

“The demonstration latrines help us very much because there was no compound with latrine around this junction. When we felt the need to defecate, we just went by the side of the road, especially in the evening’’ said Munang Oliver with a big smile. Munang, 32 year old, is one of the community volunteers trained by Plan on how to construct an affordable latrine using only locally available materials. “Now, we can go in the latrine.”

A child presenting a message to denounce the practice of child- marriage

20 June 2011: Victims of sexual, emotional and physical abuse carry more than just visible scars. The damages to self-esteem and emotional stability lie deep beneath the skin and often take years to surface. When children are the victims, these invisible wounds can prevent them from developing into emotionally stable, caring, functioning adults. To address this now and future need, Plan Cameroon has launched the “Holistic Support and Protection from Violence to Vulnerable Children” to provide emotional first aid and counseling for victims of abuse.

Sexual, physical and emotional abuse can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone, girls or boys. Naomi, 12 years old, sells fruit to raise money for school fees because her alcoholic father spends his money on drink. “One afternoon, I went to sell my fruits as usual after school. A group of boys assaulted me and raped me. Now I’m afraid.”

The few victims who speak out about personal situations of abuse are often accused of having instigated the attack and sometimes, even punished. Most choose silence because they are too ashamed about what happened, too frightened about how family members or their peers might react.

The “Holistic Support and Protection from Violence to Vulnerable Children’ will provide emotional first aid and counseling support to 2600 children (1300 boys and 1300 girls) between the ages of 0 to18 who are suffering from sexual and domestic violence and other events such as loss of a parent or guardian or discrimination. Plan will also focus on strengthening family and community ties and protecting children from violence and building up their resilience.

The program will train 60 social workers at each division level to grow their understanding of the impact of abuse on children and how to help them emotionally recover and develop. A high number of abusers were also abused as children, by considering a holistic approach that includes mental and emotional health, Plan and its partners endeavor to break the cycle.

Self-esteem: speaking out and being heard

Plan Cameroon officials launching a project for children victims of sexual and domestic violence

The Plan trained social workers organize groups of abuse victims to discuss their feelings about what happened to them. Children’s forums give victims a safe place to talk about their situation, which is the first step towards healing and recovery of their self-esteem. The forums also raise awareness of child rights and protection, the participants learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of violence and abuse so they can reach out to others needing help.

“I felt so bad when I was insulted and treated harshly just because I do not know who my father is. Working with my group, I feel better about myself and can help others who are in similar situations,” said 14 year-old Geraldine, a member of children’s forum.

The 3-year project (December 2010- December 2013) is piloted in the Fundong, Belo, Bafut and Mbengwi council areas. Plan is partnering with Project Hope and three local Cameroonian NGOs: Integrated Development Foundation (IDF), Ngokentunjia AIDS Fighters (NAFI), and Global Welfare Association (GLOWA).

Read Plan's regional report "Silent Suffering"  which includes a chapter on violence in Cameroon.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon.

Nearly 7,718 cases have now been reported in 9 out of the country’s 10 regions and 256 deaths have been attributed to the epidemic. 

Community action

More than 500 Plan-supported community volunteers are taking action across 7 of Cameroon’s regions – going door-to-door to raise awareness about cholera, provide water treatment tablets and cleaning materials such as bleach. The health of residents is noted and those who may have contracted the disease are referred to hospitals for treatment.

The Centre region with more than 2,558 cases reported is hardest hit, but partly through the efforts of Plan, numbers of new cases have now slowed to almost none. 

Vital support and supplies

Plan’s other activities to contain and stop the cholera epidemic include:

• supporting children’s acting troops, which educate their peers and parents by performing skits about cholera and how to prevent it
• providing medical supplies to over-burdened clinics in the Centre region treating cholera patients - including 20,000 syringes, 5,000 infusers, 1,000 catheters, 2,400 ringer lactate (fluid and electrolyte replenisher) and 528 glucose solutions
• supplying 700,000 oral rehydration salts for distribution across the country.
  

Protecting the vulnerable

“This outbreak has been lingering for the past 2 years. The defences of those particularly vulnerable to the disease, small children under 5 and women, are low,” said Plan’s country director in Cameroon, Famari Barro.

“Plan programmes in the region are underpinned by the importance of clean, potable water and basic hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease.”

Find out more about Plan’s work in Cameroon

Beko's story cover page

14 June 2011: Children quietly crowd around a school courtyard to watch a drama unfold. The play is about a child, Beko and his friends. They are aware and concerned about the cholera epidemic and learn what they can do to keep from getting sick and share this with everyone at their school. Zolo, a popular athlete at Beko’s school, does not believe he can contract cholera because he is so physically fit. He does not wash his hands despite Beko’s advice. Zolo falls ill with cholera and must be treated at hospital.

When the play concludes, the children applaud wildly for their friends who played the roles. They are given the opportunity to ask questions about how they can prevent the spread of cholera. They are also given a comic book to take home. The 16 paged paper book, produced by Plan Cameroon, tells the story of Beko and his friends so the children can remember the critical message of the play. Plan has produced 20,000 booklets for immediate distribution.

The message has hit home. “Just by washing my hands with water and soap, I can keep from getting sick,” said one 11 year-old student upon leaving the assembly.

School children can be particularly vulnerable to cholera because of the large concentrations of people, poor quality or dirty water, and inconsistent application of basic hygiene like hand washing. In Yaoundé, Plan has been producing the skits in overcrowded schools with particularly old or limited infrastructure for clean water. The Plan theater intervention began on May 17 and will continue through the end of June.

Plan has been working in Cameroon since 1996 to protect children, supporting them to realise their rights as independent young citizens. From providing disaster relief to running recovery projects, Plan works to protect the rights of children and young people during emergencies, ensuring their immediate and long-term needs are met.

Read more about Plan Cameroon emergency support and intervention action to help cholera-affected communities.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon.

No beds for the patients

The situation in the Obala health district is alarming with 15 beds only designated to host cholera patients

"I spent all night sitting on a chair. My knees hurt and I had to stand up regularly throughout the night to allow blood to circulate properly," complains Ibrahim*, who had his eyes fixed at the entrance of the hospital while waiting to be discharged. He’s not the only one who received treatment sitting on benches or lying on the floor. The health center is equipped with 15 beds only designated to host cholera patients.

Health authorities are overwhelmed by all the number of new cases arriving daily. Lack of beds is not the only challenge the treatment centers are facing: potable water and electricity supply are inadequate for the needs of the victims of the epidemic.

Managing the situation   

Because of the lack of rooms, the hospital staff  were obliged to select cases. The most severe cases are referred to the Yaoundé University Hospital, other cases are simply sent home:

"If there are cholera patients who can afford the treatment at domicile, we give them drugs and prescriptions to follow and send them back home. Patients are also asked to come back as soon as possible if there is no improvement or if the situation worsens. Those who stay in the hospital are being sent home immediately when they start feeling better,” says Dr. Njokou, Acting Director of the Obala District Hospital.

"With the help of Plan we can decrease the number of cases and stem the epidemic,” said Dr. Njokou with optimism.

Working on the ground

Due to the lack of rooms, less severe cases are sent home

Plan is currently carrying its after-cholera action plan with Ministry of Education. Since last August 2010 up to July 2011, Plan has pledged a budget of 18 million CFA (about 40,000 US$) to support government action and intensify training on prevention and management of epidemic outbreaks.

“The funding has provided sanitation and hygiene kits. It trained teachers on basic cholera prevention and sanitation; constructed school latrines and water points in schools to protect the lives of children who are most vulnerable to outbreaks,” said Casimir Youmbi, Plan Programme Support Manager.

“We have a lot of experience to help manage this renewed outbreak after having intervened during the 2010 cholera epidemic and contributing to prevention and containment of its spread in the region,” added Casimir.

Plan has already raised US$300,000 to help the victims of the epidemic and prevent further spread– but much more is needed. Please, make a donation to provide lifesaving support to the people impacted by the cholera epidemic.

Read more about Plan intervention action.

* Name changed for child protection reasons

Plan carries out awareness- raising campaigns to reduce the number of cholera cases

16 May 2011: Cameroon’s capital city Yaoundé and eight neighbouring regions have been hit by another cholera epidemic. To date, nationwide, almost 5,600 cases have been counted, including 179 deaths. Death toll is highest amongst children, women and the elderly.

As the epidemic worsens by the day, Plan in partnership with the Ministry of health has started to respond: “Our main concern is to support the regional coordination of the response to the epidemic, to reach communities with information on how to prevent the disease and to identify, refer and treat critical cases,” said Casimir Youmbi, Plan’s Programme Support Manager.

Preventing infection, saving lives

Plan Cameroon provides in partnership with the Ministry of Health and local non-government organizations emergency support to affected communities. Initial work included distribution of clean water and disinfectant kits containing bleaches and sprays through 600 volunteers. In the city of Yaounde, which accounts for over 78% of all cases in the Centre region, the most affected region of the country, the team has started as of this week with awareness-raising campaign using information leaflets.

Since intervention action started in April, Plan produced 20,000 cartoons with cholera prevention information for children and youth to be distributed during community outreach activities.

“Good hygiene and public health messages can go a long way to reduce deaths,” said Unni Krishnan, disaster response policy coordinator at Plan International Headquarter.

Agreements have also been signed with the regional health districts in the Littoral and South West regions, where infection rates and deaths are on the rise.

Fears of rapid spread

Health experts fear that with the start of the rainy season next month the number of infection cases will rise. “Our goal is to act fast to prevent a further spread of the deathly disease”, said Famari Barro, Plan’s country Director in Cameroon. “This is the second major outbreak within a few months in Cameroon; we need to prevent the re- occurrence of the epidemic. We call for greater public investment and donor support in public water and sanitation infrastructure as well as for improved health and hygiene services,” continues Barro.

Plan Cameroon has been able to mobilize donor support from Irish Aid and Plan Canada to combat the epidemic, however Plan is in need of further financial support to expand response and prevention measures.

To support our work, please make a donation.

The families who lost their homes are now receiving zinc sheets for the rehabilitation of houses

16 May 2011: In the North-West region of Cameroon the security of people is threatened by tribal clashes between the villages of Balikumbat and Bambalang. The violence erupted on 6th March when some people from Balikumbat village organized a funeral on a disputed land between the two communities.

The people from Bambalang village, not satisfied with holding a funeral service on their land, complained to the Balikumbat people who as a response invaded the village of Bambalang, burnt down houses, destroyed crops and livestock. Hundreds of people were forced to flee to the neighbouring settlement.

Relief services

Plan’s aid response started on 26th March with the distribution of zincs to affected families in the worst affected community of Bambalang in Ngoketunjia Subdivision, North-West region. Disaster relief services started with the provision of 1,180 sheets of 3 meters long zinc sheets for the rehabilitation of houses. Each house is receiving 40 sheets.

“These zinc sheets will allow me to roof one of my houses to protect my 15 children since my six houses were burnt,” said Ndi Ibrahim, one of the beneficiaries.

With nearly 70% of the families already returned to their homes, Plan’s assistance has been ongoing since the crisis started. A disaster relief commission is monitoring all those who have received the zinc sheet to ensure it reaches the neediest people immediately. The reconstruction works are carried out by volunteers and people who left the village are gradually returning to the community.

“Each day, we gather and help a neighbour and when the house is completed, we move to another site to put the zincs and the roof,” said Ghogomu Albert, the chairman of the relief committee set up by Plan.

Moreover, destroyed crops and livestock make people more vulnerable to food insecurity.

“I am not able to provide food to my children as we have nothing to sustain us till the next harvesting season. Now, this is the planting season but the quantity the government provided is still not enough,” said Josephina, mother of four.

Protecting children

The whole community is participating in the reconstruction of Bambalang village

To protect the children, Plan with the Ministry of Social Affairs is establishing 41 birth certificates for some class six pupils and is providing psychosocial support to the children.

“So far, about 1270 children from both primary and secondary schools lost all their school books, uniforms and bags. We are continually assessing the situation to target the people in real need and offer them help, solidarity and support,” said Casimir Youmbi, Plan Cameroon’s Disaster Coordinator.

The conflict

The tribal clash between the villages of Balikumbat and Bambalang is a first violent conflict between the two entities. The dispute over lands comes from a historical power fight as the Balikumbat people argue that Bambalang village is a quarter of their territory. In fact, both villages are independent with its own traditional leader and practices. Plan is working in this Ngoketunjia Subdivision since 1996 helping 12 located there communities.

Read more about Plan's work in Cameroon.