The continued brutality of the war between Ambazonia fighters and Cameroon's military has led to the flight of many from home and hearth that have in some cases been burnt to the ground. While many have fled to the French-speaking region of the country, others have fled into the forest, where they have made make-shift homes. Life in the forest has been unbearable due to the lack of basic means of sustenance. Food, water, and medicine are hard to come by. Women give birth in the forest in very dangerous circumstances. This situation of desperation has rightly pricked the consciences of many who are organizing supplies for those who are refugees in Nigeria and in the forests of Southern Cameroons. Thus, humanitarian aid have been flown from Europe and the United States and the Biya junta is also raising money it claims is intended to help the victims of the conflict.
Even though the humanitarian aids are quite worthwhile, it is also very important that focus should not be placed mainly on this aid as many Southern Cameroonians are doing. Several studies have shown that humanitarian aid may actually lengthen conflict. In other words, humanitarian aid in the context of the war in Cameroon may do more harm than good in that it may help fund the continuation of the conflict.
The provision of humanitarian aid, worthy as this may be, should be done in the context of other measures that are being taken to end the conflict. The best thing one can do for those who are now living in the forests is to bring them to a situation of peace. Those who are providing humanitarian aid should therefore be clear about the vision they have in mind. In other words, what is the purpose of the humanitarian aid. Is it just to sooth the words of the injured so that the war may go on or is it a strategy in a broader framework to bring about peace?
Given that the Biya junta does not even acknowledge that there is a war in Cameroon and Ambazonia people are vowing to fight to the last man or woman, there is no clear path to a state of peace at this point. Without such a clear path, humanitarian assistance is just a means to prolong the war as more refugees are being created each day. The goal of humanitarian assistance should not only be to provide temporary relief for those in agony. It should be to bring about a state of stability where the things that bring agony have been removed. Humanitarian assistance should not be about making war. It should be about making peace. If you are not working for peace, then what you are doing is not humanitarian.
Even though the humanitarian aids are quite worthwhile, it is also very important that focus should not be placed mainly on this aid as many Southern Cameroonians are doing. Several studies have shown that humanitarian aid may actually lengthen conflict. In other words, humanitarian aid in the context of the war in Cameroon may do more harm than good in that it may help fund the continuation of the conflict.
The provision of humanitarian aid, worthy as this may be, should be done in the context of other measures that are being taken to end the conflict. The best thing one can do for those who are now living in the forests is to bring them to a situation of peace. Those who are providing humanitarian aid should therefore be clear about the vision they have in mind. In other words, what is the purpose of the humanitarian aid. Is it just to sooth the words of the injured so that the war may go on or is it a strategy in a broader framework to bring about peace?
Given that the Biya junta does not even acknowledge that there is a war in Cameroon and Ambazonia people are vowing to fight to the last man or woman, there is no clear path to a state of peace at this point. Without such a clear path, humanitarian assistance is just a means to prolong the war as more refugees are being created each day. The goal of humanitarian assistance should not only be to provide temporary relief for those in agony. It should be to bring about a state of stability where the things that bring agony have been removed. Humanitarian assistance should not be about making war. It should be about making peace. If you are not working for peace, then what you are doing is not humanitarian.
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