Catastrophic Hunger Looms in Cameroon Without Urgent Funding Boost

Cameroon is on the brink of a catastrophic hunger crisis, with the World Food Program (WFP) warning that a dire funding shortage could undo progress made in the fight against hunger. The WFP, which has been working in the country to mitigate the effects of displacement and climate-related shocks, is in urgent need of $67 million to continue its operations. The country is facing multiple crises, including a Boko Haram insurgency, a separatist uprising, and an influx of refugees from the Central African Republic. Over 3.3 million people require humanitarian assistance, and more than 2 million are internally displaced. If the funding target is not met, the WFP will be forced to scale down operations, putting over half a million people at risk of losing food and nutrition assistance. School meals for over 52,000 children will also be discontinued, starting in January. The funding shortage is a result of reduced foreign aid, particularly from the United States. The Trump administration's withdrawal of U.S. foreign aid in 2023 resulted in a significant reduction in funding for humanitarian programs, including the WFP's operations in Cameroon. In contrast, a recent Lancet study highlighted the importance of U.S. foreign aid, crediting USAID programs with preventing 91 million deaths in the first two decades of this century alone. The WFP is now calling on donors to provide urgent support to prevent a catastrophic hunger crisis in Cameroon.