Yaounde: As Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Cameroon this week, attention is turning to the ongoing humanitarian efforts supporting communities affected by conflict, displacement and poverty across the country.
Pope is expected to travel to Cameroon from April 15 to 18 as part of his African journey, bringing a message of peace and solidarity to people facing difficult conditions. His visit comes at a time when humanitarian organisations continue to play a key role in helping vulnerable populations.
One of the main organisations active in the country is Catholic Relief Services, which has been working in Cameroon since 1960. The agency provides emergency assistance and long term support to communities in need. In 2024 alone, it reached more than 43,000 people across all regions of the country.
The situation in the northwest region remains one of the most serious challenges. Since 2017, the Anglophone crisis between separatist groups and government forces has displaced many families and made access difficult for aid workers. In some areas, Church institutions such as schools and clinics are among the few services still operating.
Catholic Relief Services has supported more than 150,000 internally displaced people in the region since 2019. Families have received electronic vouchers to buy food and basic household items, helping them rebuild their lives after losing homes and belongings.
The organisation has also focused on long term recovery by training people in small scale businesses such as poultry farming. Some beneficiaries have been able to create sustainable livelihoods and support their families independently.
Beyond internal displacement, Cameroon has also received refugees from neighbouring countries including Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Violence, food insecurity and climate pressures have forced many to cross borders in search of safety.
To respond to this, aid programmes have supported both refugees and host communities by building infrastructure such as classrooms and health facilities. Training initiatives have also helped young people promote social cohesion and resolve conflicts in communities experiencing rapid population growth.
However, humanitarian work has faced new challenges due to funding cuts, especially after the closure of major international support channels in early 2025. Organisations are now working to strengthen local partnerships and diversify funding sources to continue their missions.
Against this backdrop, the visit of Pope Leo XIV is seen as a strong sign of encouragement. His planned stop in Bamenda, one of the areas most affected by conflict, is expected to bring comfort to people who have endured years of hardship.
Local communities are preparing to welcome Pope with hope that his presence will draw global attention to their struggles while also highlighting the resilience and unity of the Cameroonian people.
For many, the visit is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a reminder that they are not forgotten and that efforts for peace, dialogue and recovery must continue.