Internal Displaced Persons : MoU To Ease Well-Being Signed

Cameroon is facing a complex humanitarian and protection crisis driven by conflict, inter-communal violence, and the impacts of climate change. As of August 2024, the country has over two million forcibly displaced people; 1,036,775 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 13,298 asylum seekers and 435,988 refugees. According to the Country Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Yvette Muhimpundu, the large majority of these forcibly displaced persons are vulnerable people (children and elderly persons) living with one or more types of disabilities, at risk or isolated. She reiterates that their care requires a joint commitment and effort to fully realize their human potential and increase their social and economic well-being. 
This is why on Friday, September 27, 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the social protection of forcibly displaced and stateless people was signed between the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) and the UNHCR in Yaounde. The Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irene Nguene signed on behalf of the government of Cameroon while Yvette Muhimpundu signed for UNHCR. The MoU, which is renewable after a period of three years, comprises of 15 articles, all of which seek to promote amongst others, the inclusion of refugee children in national plans, budgets and social programme and projects carried out by MINAS, facilitate access to social programmes and projects for groups with specific vulnerabilities, including the elderly, with and for whom the UNHCR works while also coordinating the social response to refugees and IDPs.     
Minister Pauline Irene Nguene noted that one of the main challenges the government is facing as far as refugees and IDPs are concerned, consists in providing appropriate solutions to ...