Yaoundé - The subject was discussed last June during a meeting of sharing and reflection organized by IOM Cameroon on the sidelines of the International Economic Days of Councils (JEICOM). 

All or almost all municipalities in Cameroon host Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). To date, the country has about 1.5 million IDPs due mainly to security crises in the Far North, Northwest and Southwest regions, but also to natural disasters. A situation that leads to particular vulnerabilities, sometimes involving host communities and almost forgetting the potential of migration in development. This is a topic that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) found important to put on the table during the International Economic Days of Councils (JEICOM) held on 01 June 2023 in Yaoundé. 

This major meeting of councils of Cameroon served as a platform for IOM to organize a workshop of reflections around the consideration on migration in local development programs and plans. According to Mr. Abdel Rahmane Diop, Chief of Mission for IOM in Cameroon, the IDPs are “people with extremely rich resources, who just need to be heard.” In order to do this, the question of their effective consideration in planning in local development programs is crucial. 

Approaches, policies and tools developed by IOM to prevent and find sustainable solutions to the displacement of populations were exposed, with a view to better inform local, state and international authorities. These involve data collection, needs assessment, and the contextual implementation of various interventions. The same is true of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) represented at this workshop by its Chargé de Mission, Mr. Albin Lazare. Mr. Albin’s presentation highlighted the need to adapt solutions to contexts, as well as to develop and adopt an avant-garde text for the protection of the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants in general.  

While municipalities such as Nkongsamba, Bangangté and Douala have pioneered the integration of internally displaced persons into their local political and economic fabric through various educational initiatives, regarding civil status and socioeconomic reintegration, it should be noted that the needs remain high in the municipalities. The pilot initiative of the deployment of 36 young volunteers in three councils (Douala 3e, Garoua 2èmeet Yaoundé 5) for the assessment of the needs of the said communes in terms of human resources, according to Harouna Djingareye – Representative of France Volontaires in Cameroon, in the ideal of finding sustainable solutions to the development of municipalities in relation to internally displaced persons. This would not be possible without adequate human resources.  

For more information, please contact Elodie Ndeme Bodolo, IOM Cameroon, Tel: 691638957, Email: endeme@iom.int mailto:endeme@iom.int