North West South West
2023-06 Factsheet - North West South West
Highlights
In the month of June, the Shelter Cluster introduced its Shelter Coordination approach in the West and Littoral Regions. While the Clusters are not activated in the West and Littoral Region in order to keep a coherent approach for the internal displacement in the four regions, the Shelter Cluster trained partners on several of its tools including the 5W, the Standardized Household Needs Assessment Tool, Market Monitoring and on its technical guidelines for NFI, Shelter repairs, and Cash for Rent. A full mission report is available.
Thanks to the work of Shelter Cluster partners since June 2022 when the Cluster adopted a standardized shelter needs assessment tool, Shelter Cluster partners have been able to assess the needs of roughly 13,600 households throughout the Northwest, Southwest, and West regions of Cameroon. So far, no data has been collected in the Littoral Region. By using this tool, the Shelter Cluster has also been able to assess the severity of Shelter and NFI needs. An interactive dashboard was released to make this data easily available to Shelter Cluster partners.
As of June 2023, Shelter Cluster partners have been able to meet the needs of 26,743 individuals. The majority of individuals 17,142 received NFI assistance, 9,457 people received shelter kits, and 144 received rental assistance.
In the last week of June, it is estimated that 800 people were displaced due to a military search for Non-State Armed Groups that resulted in violence against civilians. The Shelter Cluster is advocating for life-saving non-food items, sleeping materials, and conditional rental assistance in order to support the needs created by this displacement.
NFI
Shelter
Coverage against targets
Need analysis
At the end of June, there were several notable displacements. Approximately 800 people have displaced as a result of a burning of a village called Big Babanki in Tubah Subdivision of Mezam Division in the Northwest Region. 20 houses were reported to be burnt, and 25 civilians killed. Many internally displaced people arrived to Bamenda 3 Subdivision at the end of the month and have taken shelter with host families. Their priority needs are Shelter and NFI. 250 people were displaced from Ekona in Bangem Subdivision in Kupe-Manegumba Division in the Southwest Region as a result of violence against civilians. 5 civilians were reportedly killed, several houses were burned, while the displaced fled to the bush. Primary needs include emergency shelter materials and NFIs.
In assessments carried out by Shelter Cluster partners in 2023, a large number of households reported having repair needs (62%) and not enough money to carry out improvements to their existing shelter. Unfortunately in the first half of the year no repair activities were carried out. This is a reflection of the lack of the capacity of the Shelter Cluster to adequately address repair needs. Advocacy to donors and the need for better capacity will be required to more adequately address the current shelter conditions of those impacted by the crisis.
Response
Northwest
- UNHCR's partners continued a needs assessment to measure the shelter vulnerability of households to inform programming.
- CRS continued to conduct beneficiary enrollment for its upcoming voucher for NFI programming and started distributing cards to those who had been selected.
- SHUMAS continued supporting vulnerable IDP students with their rental costs.
- AWA distributed clothes to 5 households as part of its International Albnism Awareness Day event.
- IRC is preparing to distribute NFIs in Diche 1 village in Widikum.
Southwest
- UNHCR's partners continued needs assessment to measure the shelter vulnerability of households to inform programming. UNHCR's partners begun a needs assessment to measure the shelter vulnerability of households to inform programming.
- NRC concluded distribution of mattresses to 94 individuals who had been victims of the floods in Buea in March.
- Intersos is preparing to distribute NFIs in Tiko and Kumba 2 that they received from their partner UNHCR.
- IRC is preparing to distribute NFIs in Konye and Kumba 2.
Gaps / challenges
A gap in this past month has been the fact that partners don't have the capacity to respond quickly when new displacements arise. This is due to the fact that the Cluster lacks a rapid response mechanism and stock that is readily available in Bamenda. Cash and voucher programs take Cluster partners at least three to four weeks to establish, and NFI items often have to be procured from Douala, this slows the Cluster's response when responding to new displacements. The Shelter Cluster is currently working on putting in place a contingency plan in order to increase its capacity in preparedness.
As the Cluster continues to implement activities in the year, it is noted that Cluster partners still need to reinforce their capacity in shelter programming. Many partners are able to distribute items and cash, but are not able to adequately put in place the technical assistance and support programming required to achieve shelter outcomes.
