Cameroon storytelling project
Learn more about how we co-created a campaign with members of the Minawao Refugee Camp community in Cameroon
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Where is Cameroon?
Cameroon shares borders with six countries. It is bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
Minawao Camp lies in the extreme north of Cameroon, close to the Nigerian border.
Cameroon is an incredibly diverse place, with over 200 different languages and one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. But when Boko Haram led an insurgency in Nigeria in 2009, Cameroon was affected as violence and displacement spread across the border.
Today the crisis has become more complex, with extreme poverty, underdevelopment and climate change adding to the violence that has forced millions of people from their homes. Millions are in extreme hardship and dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.
This was taken during the needs assessments. Our partner, Public Concern, assessed the flooding damage so we can identify what support is needed for the communities who have lost their homes. 2025.
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Minawao refugee camp
Minawao camp is located 40 miles east of the Nigerian border. Since 2013, the number of refugees living here has doubled. Nearly 60% of the total refugee population in the far north are living in Minawao camp. Official statistics suggest around 75,000 refugees are living at the camp, but it’s expected that number is much higher. People have come here from Nigeria, to escape the jihadist terrorist organization, Boko Haram.
Although people may have survived extremist attacks, people have endured profound losses—their loved ones have been killed, their homes reduced to ashes, and their means of livelihood destroyed. Most people here have been living in displacement camps for between three – eight years. Kidnappings, extreme flooding and violence within Cameroon is also very common.
We have been working in Minawao camp since 2015, supporting people with shelter and emergency assistance.
How is ShelterBox supporting people?
We’ve supported over 100,000 people in Cameroon so far.
Working with our new partner, Public Concern, we are providing a range of emergency shelters and durable shelters.
Newly displaced people, both within Minawao Camp and outside the camp, will be supported with emergency tents and emergency shelters. We’ll also be providing household items like mosquito nets, sleeping mats, soap and kitchen sets.
People who have been displaced for longer need different support as they look to reconstruct their shelters into more durable structures.
To support them with this, we will be providing Shelter Packages with a range of construction materials including tarpaulin, wood, nails and cement.
We’ll also be supplying Community Tool Kits which include reusable items like hammers, nail pulls and brick moulds. These will be shared between households.
These items can improve both the physical and emotional wellbeing of these families who have already been through so much.
We are currently responding to extreme flooding in the North of Cameroon, the below images detail the shelter conditions people are facing. Our project is providing flood defence kits, tarpaulin and ropes, kitchen sets and emergency shelter.
A woman and two children sit outside their shelter in north Cameroon.
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How can I support people in Cameroon?
You can help us bring hope and relief to those who need it most. Every donation counts—it’s not just about giving; it’s about restoring dignity, safety, and hope to those who have lost everything.
You can also stay informed, and share on social media, to raise awareness about the crisis people are facing in Cameroon.
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Catherine’s story
“My husband and I were at home entertaining the children, when suddenly we heard gunshots and people started running everywhere. My husband told us to go with a neighbour, then people started quickly leaving the village, especially the women and children, but I could not see him.”
“I was afraid, and the children did not stop crying as we ran. I just followed the others without knowing where we were going.”
“That was the last time I saw my husband.”
“My home makes me feel something that I cannot explain. In my shelter I can recover in my own privacy, and I have the feeling of security for all of us. My children also recovered some peace and freedom. They can play and sleep well whenever they want.”
Modu’s story
25-year-old Modu is originally from Nigeria. She now lives with her four children in Minawao Camp.
When Boko Haram destroyed her village, Modu fled with her neighbours. In the chaos, she lost her husband and hasn’t seen him since. She still lives in the hope that she will one day see him again.
Weeks after fleeing their home, Modu and her children eventually made it to Minawo Camp. Their first days inside the collective centre were not easy – Modu couldn’t sleep at night and they were living in incredibly overcrowded conditions.
Modu received a ShelterBox tent, as well as a kitchen set, mosquito nets and other essential items.
“Life has become so much better. I still miss my husband, but I feel highly relieved. We finally have some privacy in our own home.”
