U.S. Embassy Branch Office Douala Principal Officer Stuart Wilson donated over 15,000 metric tons of food for vulnerable communities in Cameroon through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Food for Peace Program.

The food - which includes rice, peas, cereals, and vegetable oil - was presented by Mr. Wilson at the Douala seaport to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and it is destined for persons displaced in Cameroon’s Far North Region by violence from Boko Haram.

Receiving the food, WFP Representative in Cameroon, Mr. Feliz Gomez noted that the donation will serve 300,000 people over the next three months, including refugees fleeing violence from the Central African Republic, Nigeria, internally displaced Cameroonians, and other populations suffering from food insecurity.

In his remarks, Mr. Wilson underscored U.S. support for communities affected by violence in Cameroon, adding: “Approximately 795 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger. Every year, it kills more people than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS combined. Food assistance is one way we can help. This year, USAID is providing 21 million dollars of in-kind food assistance to the United Nations World Food Program. This assistance will help refugees from the Central African Republic and Nigeria, Internally Displaced Persons, and vulnerable populations in Cameroon.”

Mr. Wilson also said that according to a 2015 UNICEF report, about 12 percent of children in the Far North region face moderate to acute malnutrition, an increase of nearly 5 percent from the previous year: “UNICEF warns that this situation could continue to worsen.

USAID will continue to provide life-saving emergency food assistance to refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, and host communities. Our food assistance is an expression of the compassion and goodwill of the people of the United States. I thank everyone for being a part of this program today. On est ensemble!”

Remarks by Mr. Stuart Wilson at the ceremony

Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests
Good morning.

It is my pleasure to be with you here today. American Ambassador Michael Hoza has asked me to also give you his greetings.

Approximately 795 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger.

Every year, it kills more people than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS combined. Food assistance is one way we can help.

This year, the United States Agency for International Development, known simply as “USAID,” is providing 21 million dollars of in-kind food assistance to the United Nations World Food Program.

This assistance will help refugees from the Central African Republic and Nigeria, Internally Displaced Persons, and vulnerable populations in Cameroon.

Last year, USAID provided over 18 million dollars to the World Food Program for this same purpose. Vulnerable families are receiving food baskets with pulses, rice, and vegetable oil.

USAID also provides nutrient-rich and fortified foods to pregnant women, nursing women, and children under five, to help fight malnutrition.

As civil unrest continues in Northeast Nigeria and the Central African Republic, refugees are increasingly fleeing into Cameroon.

In Eastern Cameroon, the UN Agency for Refugees, known as UNHCR, has registered more than 138,000 refugees since 2013.

Boko Haram has forced many people to flee their homes in Northeastern Nigeria.

According to UNHCR, about 72,000 Nigerian refugees are in Cameroon’s Far North region. 56,000 of them are registered at Minawao Camp.

The latest survey of the International Organization for Migration revealed that there are about 170,000 Internally Displaced Persons in the Far North.

According to a 2015 UNICEF report, about 12 percent of children in the Far North region face moderate to acute malnutrition. That’s an increase of nearly 5 percent from the year before.

UNICEF warns that this situation could continue to worsen. USAID will continue to provide life-saving emergency food assistance to refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, and host communities.

Our food assistance is an expression of the compassion and goodwill of the people of the United States. I thank everyone for being a part of this program today. On est ensemble.