2 Jul 2009

CAMEROON / ECONOMIC STRAIN

Since 2002, over 60,000 Central Africans have come seeking refuge in Cameroon from attacks, kidnappings and killings by groups of armed men,bandits, and rebels fleeing the Chadian conflict to the North. Five years down the road, and the integration holds, yet the resources are becoming increasingly strained. UNICEF

Posted at: July 2, 2009 1:05 pm

Duration: 03:19

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: CAMEROON/ ECONOMIC STRAIN
TRT: 3:19
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH  / PEUL / NATS 
 
DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2009, CAMEROON
 
SHOTLIST:
 
1. Med shot, CAR refugee child sitting near cows
2. Wide shot, child herding cows
3. Med shot, child herding cows
4. Med shot, women in village
5. Med shot, child standing against wall
6. Med shot, Djohong town sign with man walking behind
7. Med shot, children walking through busy village
8. Wide shot, market with child carrying baby walking through
9. Med shot, refugee children sitting lined up
10. Med shot, refugee women at market selling butter
11.  Close up, small bowl of butter
12.  SOUNDBITE (English) Ora Musu Clemens Representative, UNICEF, Cameroon:
 "We have overwhelming welcome of refugees from the Central African into the east, in communities that are very fragile already, but yet they open up their communities, and that puts a burden on water, resources, health care, education.  We have a problem of malnutrition both in the host population and in refugees coming in, we don't have a focus of that in the international community and we want people to understand the juxtaposition of already fragile communities with the influx of refugees, with continued instability in Central Africa, that indeed the population, and the Government of Cameroon have done what they can.  We need further help to make those situations better."
13. Wide shot, cows crossing path
14. Med shot, children by small garden
15. Wide shot, border village
16. Close up, malnourished child
17. SOUNDBITE (Peul) Absatu, Mother:
 "I have only one week's worth of food to last a month.  There is just no food." 
18. Close up, severely malnourished child
19. Close up, child being fed
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Government Doctor Dzudjo Pierre:
"When we began, the programme was directed towards Central African refugees, but as we went on, we understood that Cameroonians too had the same problem.  And now we are having both Central African cases and Cameroonian cases."
21. Wide shot, small garden
22. Med shot, refugee with children in garden
23. Med shot, children walking through village
24. Close up, refugee girl in class
25. Med shot, school children is overcrowded classroom
26. Wide shot, classroom with children holding slates
27. Close up, child writing on slate
28. SOUNDBITE (French) Gilbert Naoub, Primary school director, Manju, Cameroon. "They were about 150, now there are more than 300 – those that we were able to enrol.  But there are still a large number in the neighbourhood that we couldn't take simply because we don't have the buildings."
29. Med shot, malnourished child walking
30. Med shot, mother cooling milk at nutritional centre
31. Long shot, mothers with children sitting on beds
32. Wide shot, overcrowded outdoor school
33. Med shot, teacher at front of classroom
34. Med shot, puddle on school floor
35. Close up, children listening to teacher
36. Close up, Girl looking at camera
 
STORYLINE:
 
The Central African refugees currently in Cameroon, particularly the nomadic Mbororo ethnic group, have a long history shepherding their cattle across the borders of neighbouring countries.  However, since 2002, over 60,000 Central Africans have come instead seeking refuge from attacks, kidnappings and killings by groups of armed men, bandits, and rebels fleeing the Chadian conflict to the North.
 
In a broad sense the integration of the CAR refugees into eastern Cameroon can be considered a success story.  A smooth settling into supportive host communities.
 
Five years down the road, and the integration holds, yet the resources are becoming increasingly strained.
 
SOUNDBITE (English) Ora Musu Clemens Representative, UNICEF, Cameroon:
"We have overwhelming welcome of refugees from the Central African into the east, in communities that are very fragile already, but yet they open up their communities, and that puts a burden on water, resources, health care, education.  We have a problem of malnutrition both in the host population and in refugees coming in, we don't have a focus of that in the international community and we want people to understand the juxtaposition of already fragile communities with the influx of refugees, with continued instability in Central Africa, that indeed the population, and the Government of Cameroon have done what they can.  We need further help to make those situations better."
 
The nomadic pastoralist Mbororo, traditionally dependent on raising cattle for survival, find themselves now settled into agricultural communities, and most have lost most or all of their herds.  They survive on UNHCR food distribution, and struggle to nourish their families. 
 
SOUNDBITE (Peul) Absatu, Mother:
 "I have only one week's worth of food to last a month.  There is just no food." 
 
With few food resources available the region has seen severe child malnutrition with nearly 1/3rd of all cases suffered by Cameroonian children. 
 
SOUNDBITE (English) Government Doctor Dzudjo Pierre: 
"When we began, the programme was directed towards Central African refugees, but as we went on, we understood that Cameroonians too had the same problem.  And now we are having both Central African cases and Cameroonian cases."
 
The sedentary life has meant a cultural shift as many Mbororo try their hand at subsistence farming, while also adjusting to village life, and schooling for their children.  
In 2008 school attendance nearly doubled in the region, filling the already crowded classrooms.  Still, only 37% of the more than 28,000 refugee children of school age are in class.
 
SOUNDBITE (French) Gilbert Naoub, Primary school director, Manju, Cameroon:
 "They were about 150, now there are more than 300 – those that we were able to enrol.  But there are still a large number in the neighbourhood that we couldn't take simply because we don't have the buildings."
 
Urgent humanitarian needs in this economically deprived region have gone largely unnoticed by the International Community.  UNICEF with partners UNHCR, International Medical Corps and the International Federation of the Red Cross are doing the most they can with the few resources available to them.   Yet unless the Cameroonian Government and communities are provided the support to create long-term resources and capacity, this silent emergency will continue grow.

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