Latest news with #GianlucaFerrera
Zawya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
World Food Programme (WFP) warns of major cuts to food aid in Cameroon as resources risk running out
Half a million refugees and the most vulnerable Cameroonians risk being cut off from humanitarian food assistance in the coming weeks as resources reach critically low levels, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today. Without urgent new funding, WFP will be forced to stop life-saving food assistance at the end of August to over 240,000 people who have escaped conflict in Cameroon. Additionally, more than 200,000 children and mothers will lose vital nutrition support, and school meals for 60,000 children will stop, putting their health, education, and futures at risk. 'We have reached a critical tipping point,' said Gianluca Ferrera, WFP's Country Director in Cameroon. 'Without immediate funding, children will go hungry, families will suffer, and lives will be lost.' Assistance to refugees inside Cameroon has already begun reducing as resources ran out; in July, WFP was forced to end assistance for 26,000 refugees from Nigeria in the Minawao refugee camp in the north; and refugees from the Central African Republican (CAR) in the Gado Camp in eastern Cameroon are now receiving only half of their daily food needs, pushing families to adopt negative coping strategies such as skipping meals, or selling their limited belongings to afford food. In 2025, WFP has delivered lifesaving food assistance to 523,000 people, including internally displaced families, Nigerian and CAR refugees, and vulnerable host communities. Almost 300,000 women and children have also benefited from nutrition support and school meals. This support has helped stabilize communities, improve childhood and educational outcomes, and prevent hunger from deteriorating in some of Cameroon's most fragile regions. Without immediate funding, these gains will be reversed. ' These cuts will worsen food security in the short-term but also have long-term implications for the country, Ferrera warned. 'Cutting school meals will likely reverse hard-won gains in education, including school attendance and retention. This is a crucial moment to protect the most vulnerable, preserve progress, and prevent a deeper crisis.' An estimated 2.6 million people across the country are projected to face acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, a 6 percent increase from the same period last year according to the March 2025 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis. The Far North and Northwest regions account for the largest share of the food-insecure population. An additional US$65.5 million is urgently needed to continue lifesaving assistance over the next six months extending from August 2025 to January 2026. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
Zawya
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Japan and World Food Programme (WFP) join forces to strengthen food security of vulnerable populations in Cameroon
In collaboration with the government, WFP will provide general food distributions to 17,000 most vulnerable refugees, internally displaced people, vulnerable host populations, including primary school-aged children in the Far North, North, East, Adamawa, North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. The funding will also enable WFP to reach 8,200 primary school children with nutritious meals sourced from Japan. Additionally, WFP will extend its integrated food and nutrition assistance to 8,800 refugees, IDPs, and vulnerable host communities located in the Far North, and Eastern regions (East, North, and Adamawa). 'Japan's support is more than just a lifeline—it is an investment in resilience and hope. By addressing urgent food and nutrition needs, we are creating pathways toward sustainable change for the most vulnerable populations in Cameroon,' said Gianluca Ferrera, WFP's Country Director in Cameroon. 'We are profoundly thankful for Japan's unwavering dedication to the fight against hunger.' The humanitarian situation remains critical in Cameroon with 1.1 million people internally displaced as of December 2024, due to the protracted crisis in the lake Chad, North-West and South-West regions, and the adverse effects of climate change such as frequent droughts and floods. The country also hosts 281,488 refugees from the Central African Republic in the Adamawa, East, and North regions. According to the November 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis over 2.7 million people are projected to experience acute hunger between June and August 2025. 'Through this partnership, the Government of Japan aims to address food security of communities and build their resilience,' said H.E. Mr. Kentaro Minami, Japanese Ambassador to Cameroon. 'Our contribution reflects a balanced approach, addressing essential food and nutrition needs while laying the foundation for long-lasting solutions to improve livelihoods of vulnerable populations.' Overall, in Cameroon, WFP focuses on addressing food insecurity and malnutrition through emergency relief and recovery programmes. This includes the provision of cash and food assistance to crisis-affected people, school meals to primary school children, nutrition support and services to children under 5, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, and food assistance for asset creation. The main objective is to improve school attendance and learning, enhance local agricultural productivity, improve access to nutrition, and strengthen community resilience to climate shocks. WFP is dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations and fostering sustainable development throughout the country. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
