A violent fire ravaged the Kolofata refugee camp in the Far North region of Cameroon on Monday, March 2, 2026, leaving more than 14,000 people homeless. Several injured were immediately taken to the local hospital, while the fire destroyed already precarious shelters, plunging the victims into total destitution.
This disaster is unfortunately not an isolated case in the region. The Kolofata refugee camp has already recorded several major fires, including two in the past month alone. These repeated tragic events are hitting populations already weakened by insecurity and violence. Living conditions in the camp were already deplorable before this fire, with a glaring lack of food, water and decent shelter. The vulnerability of the refugees is now exacerbated, raising concerns among the humanitarian community about a possible accelerated deterioration of health and social conditions.
The makeshift shelters, built with precarious materials, and the lack of security infrastructure are factors that explain the recurrence of these fires. Each new disaster destroys the meager possessions that the displaced people had managed to keep. The immediate needs for care, shelter and food are immense.
In the short term, it is imperative to urgently rehouse the 14,000 disaster victims and provide appropriate care to the injured. In the longer term, these fires compromise any prospect of stabilization and reinforce the trauma of the populations, thus दूरing hope of a return to a dignified life. Faced with this emergency, the authorities and humanitarian organizations must act quickly to prevent such tragedies, despite the lack of resources. The international community is called upon to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Far North of Cameroon.
Kolofata's proximity to Nigeria and the persistent insecurity linked to Boko Haram attacks since 2013 continue to cause population displacements and put a strain on already overloaded infrastructure. As of December 31, 2025, the Far North of Cameroon hosted more than 500,000 internally displaced persons, out of approximately one million nationally, according to UNHCR data.
