Supporting Trauma Healing of Displaced Children in Wotutu, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Every child has the inalienable right to safety, security, and basic needs like clean air, water, and food. Unfortunately, during crises, populations are bound to flee their homes in search for safer areas of settlement. Displaced children experience trauma, deprivation, and vulnerabilities as social services (food, water, sanitation, housing, and health) break down.

More than fifty families fled their homes due to the crises in the North-West and South-West regions to settle in Wotutu village, a small community in the Limbe Sub-division, Fako Division, Southwest Region of Cameroon. Their daily lives have been disrupted by the crisis. Although violence has reduced recently, the sequels of the war remain in the form of traumatized out of school children, displaced and unaccompanied children, school dropouts etc.

To address this situation, UNICEF Cameroon works with community members and community-based organizations such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation (LUKMEF) to provide a safe, supportive, and friendly environment for children. Psychosocial support is also provided within a framework of an integrated response.

Sharon, a community member who volunteers to support these vulnerable children says, “we help children to overcome the distress of the war. We give them space to play.” She also adds that “We carryout sporting activities like football, handball and volleyball.” The space is open to children and adolescents from 5–18 years of age, where they meet every Saturday for two hours.

UNICEF Cameroon thanks its partners such as ECHO, SIDA, CERF and the Governments of Norway and Korea for their financial contributions towards the wellbeing of the most vulnerable children in emergency situations.

For every child, protection.

Written by Rosaline Nganda and Aristide Agbor Amougou