CAMEROON CALLS FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR REFUGEES IN GENEVA

CAMEROON CALLS FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR REFUGEES IN GENEVA

Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul, has called on the international community to increase funding and support for refugees and host countries amid growing humanitarian needs and declining international assistance.

Speaking on October 12, 2026, at the opening of the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, the minister represented President Paul Biya.

He highlighted Cameroon’s hospitality, noting that the country hosts approximately 500,000 refugees and 20,000 asylum seekers, mainly from neighbouring countries. He reaffirmed Cameroon’s commitment to refugee protection while stressing that host countries cannot bear the growing financial burden alone.

The minister urged international partners to make humanitarian assistance readily available, emphasising that funding must be accessible when emergencies arise. He also reiterated Cameroon’s preference for the voluntary return of refugees to their countries of origin under safe and dignified conditions.

The session runs from October 12 to 16, 2026, bringing together representatives from around the world to address refugee protection and the growing challenges of humanitarian assistance.