By Jodelle Kuenbou / RELUFA
For more than a decade, a humanitarian crisis has continued to unfold in the Far North region of Cameroon, leaving local communities in a prolonged state of vulnerability in terms of security, food, and nutrition. Between insecurity caused by atrocities committed by the Islamist sect Boko Haram, persistent poverty, and the effects of climate change on the living conditions of communities, rural populations in this region face structural vulnerability that undermines their food security and livelihoods.
It is within this already difficult context that a devastating fire broke out on 7 February 2026 in the Ndaba camp for internally displaced persons, located in the Kolofata subdivision. Within a few hours, about 3,500 shelters were reduced to ashes, affecting nearly 1,000 households, or approximately 6,000 people. Beyond the material losses, food reserves, production tools, and livelihoods were destroyed, plunging families even deeper into extreme hardship.
In response to this situation, several humanitarian actors provided immediate assistance. Within this dynamic, the Network for the Fight Against Hunger (RELUFA), with financial support from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the emergency and humanitarian assistance programme of the Presbyterian Church (USA), aligned its intervention with the efforts of other humanitarian actors supporting populations affected by disasters and crises. However, beyond short-term relief, a more sustainable response was needed to enable affected populations to regain their autonomy. It is within this perspective that RELUFA implemented a targeted intervention aimed at strengthening the agricultural resilience of affected households.
Seeds as a pathway to restoring the livelihoods of affected communities
Rather than limiting its response to food distribution, which can only provide temporary relief, RELUFA made the strategic choice to invest in the revival of local agricultural production. This approach is based on the conviction that restoring affected communities’ capacity to produce their own food is a more sustainable way to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid and strengthen resilience to future crises.
In this context, on 7 April 2026, an agricultural input distribution activity was organized at the Kolofata sub-divisional office. Through this initiative, 100 vulnerable households, among the most affected by the fire, received support in the form of seeds (millet and maize) as well as fertilizers suited to local agro-climatic conditions.
Each beneficiary household received sufficient support to cultivate approximately half a hectare of land, a significant area for restarting food production and preparing for the next agricultural season.
« I received millet seeds and fertilizers, and this will greatly help us with farming. I am very grateful that they thought of supporting us,” said a beneficiary from the Ndaba camp.
Beneficiaries engaged in their own recovery
The impact of this activity goes beyond the numbers; it is evident from the testimonies and the commitment of the beneficiaries. The supported households expressed their deep gratitude to RELUFA and its partners for this assistance, which comes at a crucial moment in their lives.
“We lost everything in the fire last February. We received fertilizer and maize seed, and since we had nothing, this will help us in our fields. Thank you to RELUFA,” a beneficiary testified.
Indeed, the beneficiaries of this solidarity action, led by RELUFA have committed to making good use of the inputs received to increase their agricultural production and meet their families’ food needs. This commitment demonstrates the level of ownership of the intervention by the communities, a key condition for ensuring its sustainability and considering the results of this intervention.
Which is now enabling 100 households to resume their agricultural activities, RELUFA is directly contributing to the revival of the local economy and indirectly to the food security of approximately 460 people.
This initiative represents a significant step forward; however, needs remain substantial. Several households affected by the fire have not yet received similar support. It is therefore necessary to continue and scale up such interventions in order to reach a larger number of beneficiaries within the community.
Accordingly, RELUFA reaffirms its commitment to supporting rural communities affected by food insecurity in their recovery, with an emphasis on sustainable, inclusive, and locally appropriate solutions. Beyond the emergency response provided by other organizations, the key challenge is to develop lasting solutions that promote the self-reliance of affected populations while preserving their dignity.
