Cameroon: Food Insecurity Growns as the Drought Extends

Cameroon villagers being displaced due to the drought across the country, Aug 2024 Photo: UNHCR

August 25, 2024 Hour: 4:11 pm

In Cameroon, the drought in the north-west of the country, especially in the region of Pitoa, has affected farmers’ lives and crops, resulting in food insecurity.

Different crop producers such as maize, wheat or cotton have lost hectares of harvest due to lack of rainfall.

The situation is so bad that this Muslim community has organized fasting sessions to pray for the rain to return.

Local weather expert, Yinda Martial, believes climate change and weather patterns are to blame for the disruption in rainfall.

#China helped #Cameroon build drinking water infrastructure. Is it a debt crisis or developmental aid?

Only 43% of Cameroonians have access to basic sanitation due to climate change, poverty, violent conflict, ongoing drought, and other related causes. https://t.co/uI8u0GtE3y
— Global Voices (@globalvoices) August 15, 2024

“This phenomenon is part of climate change. In addition, during this period, a high-pressure system has been established over the city of Garoua and surrounding area. This has meant that rain clouds have not formed,” he says.

Extreme drought has also been reflected in the prices of products such as cereals, which are essential to the diet of several Cameroonians.

Local media report the soaring food prices as common as a basket of bread, all due to the difficulty of watering the wheat fields.

As a data of color, in the whole country, several people and towns dont have acces to clean water and basic higienic services due to the extreme droughts, climate change and the conflicts between tribes in the region.