• Cameroon, UNHCR discuss linking refugee hosting with national development
• Country hosts nearly one million internally displaced people
• Talks focus on economic inclusion and documentation for displaced populations

The Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, and the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Raouf Mazou, have examined how the presence of refugees in Cameroon can be aligned with the country’s economic development agenda. Both officials held talks in Yaoundé on March 3, focused on the economic and development dimensions of hosting refugees, as well as the management of nearly one million internally displaced persons in the country.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed the state of cooperation between Cameroon and the UN agency, with particular attention to the impact of refugees on host communities. Mazou stated that the presence of refugees in a region, “if given the necessary attention, can have a positive effect on the communities that welcome them.” He noted that while refugees require food assistance, they also need “hope and development,” adding that they can contribute talent and recognition to host areas.

The issue of internal displacement was also raised, with Mazou pointing out that Cameroon has close to one million internally displaced persons. Humanitarian assistance, he said, remains essential, but discussions also centered on how to move beyond emergency aid towards enabling displaced persons to regain normal lives, whether by returning home or settling where they currently reside.

“We have spoken about what is happening in Cameroon and elsewhere with an emphasis on the issue of internally displaced persons,” Mazou said. He added that they were “extremely inspired” by the minister’s vision of how such challenges should be addressed. The question of documentation for displaced persons was also discussed, focusing on identifying those in displacement situations and organising access to official documents. According to Mazou, such documentation would allow them to benefit from social assistance and participate in the local economy.

Mercy Fosoh, with Business in Cameroon