The European Union has released €485,000 (about US$567,000) in emergency humanitarian funding to support vulnerable populations in Cameroon’s Far North, North and East regions, following deadly fires and worsening food insecurity.
The funding, announced in a European Commission press release issued in Yaoundé on 7 April 2026, is aimed at addressing two urgent humanitarian shocks: fires that destroyed camps for internally displaced persons in Kolofata in February, and a growing food crisis affecting thousands of households across northern and eastern parts of the country.
According to the EU, the assistance is intended to provide immediate relief to the most vulnerable families while helping stabilise access to essential services in areas facing mounting humanitarian pressure.
Of the total amount, about US$275,000 has been earmarked for victims of the Kolofata fires, while roughly US$292,000 will support interventions targeting food insecurity in the Far North, North and East regions.
The programme, to be implemented by the Cameroon Red Cross, is expected to deliver multi-sector assistance to 3,312 households, representing about 23,184 people, over a period of five months.
Under the emergency fire response, affected households will receive cash assistance, allowing families to prioritise urgent needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, water and hygiene, while also helping to stimulate local markets and community-level economic activity.
In parallel, the food security intervention is expected to reach around 92,600 people.
This includes direct cash transfers to approximately 2,100 households, or about 12,600 individuals, alongside support in water, sanitation, health and nutrition.
A further 80,000 people are expected to benefit from agricultural support programmes, including urban farming and pre-harvest cultivation initiatives, aimed at restoring local food production and reducing dependence on external aid.
The intervention is targeting areas considered most at risk, where food stocks are running low and population displacement remains high.
The European Commission said the funding is being channelled through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), enabling a rapid humanitarian response to sudden crises.
David Kerespars, head of EU humanitarian operations in Cameroon, said the Cameroon Red Cross remains a critical frontline actor because of its nationwide network of volunteers, which allows for rapid needs assessments and swift delivery of assistance.
Adesh Tripaghee, the IFRC country head, described the EU contribution as timely and essential, warning that the humanitarian situation remains fragile amid the risk of additional shocks, including the upcoming flood season and broader geopolitical pressures.
The latest emergency allocation adds to the EU’s wider humanitarian support to Cameroon, which the bloc said has totalled €205 million since 2017.
That support has covered a broad range of humanitarian needs, including food and nutrition assistance, healthcare, emergency shelter, education, water access and disaster preparedness, underlining the EU’s sustained engagement in addressing recurrent crises and long-term vulnerability in the country.
