Thousands of residents have fled their communities in Cameroon’s Far North Region following deadly attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Boko Haram fighters, seeking safety in the town of Waza.
Families from more than 10 villages around Makary and Medouga have arrived in Waza by trucks, motorcycles and on foot after a wave of violence reportedly left at least 14 people dead.
One of the displaced residents, Kassoum Saley, said repeated attacks had forced villagers to abandon their homes with only the belongings they could carry.
“We are overwhelmed,” Saley said, adding that residents had been forced to keep watch over their communities overnight in anticipation of further attacks.
The displaced families said they had received little or no assistance since arriving in Waza, with women and children reportedly going for days without adequate food or water.
The situation has raised concerns over a worsening humanitarian crisis as the influx puts additional pressure on the town’s limited resources.
A local health official, Mahamat Amadou, said many of the displaced people were arriving frightened and exhausted, with some sleeping in the open and lacking adequate security and basic necessities.
The influx has also placed pressure on schools and other public spaces in Waza, where hundreds of displaced people have been seeking shelter since Thursday, September 17.
More than 300 additional displaced people reportedly arrived in Maroua overnight, further highlighting the scale of the displacement caused by the violence.
Crisis meetings began on Monday at the office of the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region as authorities assess the situation and consider an emergency response to the growing humanitarian needs.
The latest displacement adds to the longstanding security and humanitarian challenges facing communities in Cameroon’s Far North, where Boko Haram and other armed groups have carried out attacks over the years.
