UK to Provide Support to Children Affected by Crisis in NW, SW

UK’s Minister of State for Africa: Harriett Baldwin

The United Kingdom, UK has said it will provide emergency aid to several children affected by the escalating armed conflict in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

                This is the main content of a statement made public by the UK department for International Development.

                “The UK is to supply new emergency aid to help tackle a humanitarian crisis in Cameroon, as the Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin calls for full humanitarian access to save thousands of children’s lives” said the statement.

                The department said fighting between Anglophone separatists and security forces has displaced almost half a million people since tensions flared more than a year ago in the North-West and South-West regions of the country.

                “The humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating, food supplies are critical and thousands of children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition” they said.

                In the meantime, the much-needed new UK aid funding, delivered through UNICEF, it has been announced will treat 1,300 children who are most at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition

                They will also provide essential drugs to treat 5,700 children for deadly diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and acute respiratory infections as well as deliver water and sanitation kits, non-food items and dignity kits to 10,000 people.

                Within the same context, 2,000 mosquito-nets will be provided to prevent malaria while 3,500 children will be vaccinated against measles.

                “Hundreds of thousands of people are living in desperate conditions in Cameroon. We call on all parties to provide full humanitarian access to ensure more lives are not put at risk” UK’s Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin said of the initiative.

                She adds “It is the most vulnerable, particularly young children, who find themselves on the front line of this humanitarian crisis.UK aid will make sure the most vulnerable can get the medical treatment, food, water and support they so desperately need. The new funding will go towards a $15 million (£11.9m) emergency appeal launched earlier this year by the UN”.

                Explaining the programme in details, Thursday’s statement revealed that UK aid will be providing a £2.5m contribution to the UN’s response to the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, with £2m to be disbursed immediately through UNICEF.

                The remainder will be allocated in 2019 to support the coordination of the international response through the Conflict Humanitarian and Security Department, CHASE, same statement added.