This archive report was first published on 20 August 2021.
Published on August 20, 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that clashes between Choa Arab herders and Mousgoum fishermen and farmers in Cameroon's Far North region have claimed 32 lives and left thousands displaced.
The violence, which began on August 10, has forced thousands to flee to neighboring Chad, with Chadian authorities reporting the arrival of 11,000 people seeking refuge. An additional 7,300 people have been displaced within Cameroon.
According to the UNHCR, the majority of those who have fled to Chad are women and children, with most of the men being elderly. The agency has called on the governments of Cameroon and Chad to take immediate action to reduce intercommunal tensions and ensure the safety of those forced to flee.
"UNHCR calls on the governments concerned to do everything possible to reduce the intercommunal tensions that have caused this displacement and to ensure the safety of people forced to flee," said Millicent Mutuli, the UN Agency's Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
Those who have fled to Chad are in urgent need of shelter, particularly during the rainy season. Many are sleeping under trees, while others have found temporary shelter in schools or with host families.
"There is an urgent need for temporary shelter because most of the new arrivals are women and children exposed to a wide-range of protection risks," said Iris Blom, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Chad.
