CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Information

Food insecurity remains one of the greatest global challenges. Since 2014, the number of people affected by hunger worldwide has been rising again: In 2019, almost 750 million people were exposed to extreme food insecurity (FAO et al., 2020), out of whom almost 135 million people in 55 countries or territories were classified to be in crisis conditions or worse. Violent conflicts undoubtedly play a decisive role in current food crises. In 2019, more than 77 million people in 22 countries were affected by conflict-driven food crises (FSIN, 2020). In addition, it is worth mentioning that violent conflicts have severe short and long-term impacts on the nutrition status of children (Brücket al, 2016).

The Anglophone regions of Cameroon have since late 2016 witnessed a sociopolitical crisis which has deteriorated overtime and led to Recent events have led to the escalation of violence and armed confrontations between government forces and Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) (Gilbert et al ,2021). This was accompanied by Monday ‘ghost-towns’ and other spontaneous calls for ‘lockdowns’, especially on commemorated national days, sometimes lasting for several days.. This equally caused thousands to flee into neighboring Nigeria, thousands more internally displaced, and loss of livelihood, among other unfortunate consequences. According to latest estimates, almost 3,000 people have been killed and over half a million displaced since 2017 (human rights watch, 2020).

Monday ‘ghost towns’ and other spontaneous calls for shutdown of all activities in the regions, sometimes lasting several days and having a huge impact on children’s ability to attend school and learn (International crisis group, 2017) .

Schools have been prime targets of arson and other attacks, while teachers and students have been victims of violence, assaults, kidnapping, maiming, and in extreme situations, cold-blooded killing (Amnesty International, 2020).

All these has led to negative impacts on the food security situation in the North-West regions, where 70 percent of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, increased violence among armed groups and government forces has displaced about 438 000 people, forcing farmers to abandon their fields. This has caused a decrease in agricultural production as well as rising prices of basic food commodities such as of maize and haricot beans. Insecurity has also restricted population movements and limited access to markets, which will lead to the depletion of stocks and increase the population’s vulnerability to acute food insecurity (FAO, 2017).

Household food reserves in the conflict-affected Northwest and Southwest regions are depleting atypically quickly due to a fourth consecutive season of below average production and below average agricultural incomes in 2020. Crisis outcomes are anticipated in February, with more and more households expected to face same or worse outcomes as the lean season progresses. Prolonged conflicts in the North West and South West regions continue to disrupt agricultural and livelihood activities through frequent lock downs, kidnappings and killing of civilians. Currently, the NWSW records 705,800 displaced persons within or beyond the regions (OCHA, January 2021). The upsurge in kidnapping, killing, violence with forceful displacement continues to erode poor households’ coping mechanisms and continuously exposing them to acute food insecurity. The security situation in the Northwest Region remains particularly volatile, which has limited the international community’s ability to assess and aid affected communities. Before this study was conducted, no sectorial needs assessment had been carried out in affected Northwestern communities to better understand the impact of the crisis on WASH, food security, and livelihoods.

As a result, little qualitative and quantitative data exists with which to enable actors engaged in emergency response programming in the region to effectively respond to the needs of affected communities.

While it’s important to note that the humanitarian context in the region remains extremely dynamic, this assessment aims to provide actors and stakeholders with accurate, reliable data on the impact of the crisis and the armed conflict on food security and livelihood, thereby facilitating a more informed, coordinated sectorial response.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Anglophone regions of Cameroon have been hit by a sociopolitical crisis which has led to fall in economic activities, a decline in farm produce, increase in the prices of food commodities, access to some villages or parts of the main towns of the region is not easy, high transportation cost and many more. The Bamenda III area which is mildly hit by the crisis has been hosting a lot of internally displaced persons who have relocated from other villages or parts of town that have been hit by the crisis. So this research is to assess  the food security situation of the population living in Bamenda III during this crisis period as access to food has become difficult, food prices have increased, the population of the area has increased as well due to increase in the number of internally displaced persons, the standard of living has dropped and people are unable to consume a variety of food products due to scarcity or no access to such foods which might prevent them from reaching their nutritional needs.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main research question

What are the comparative analysis of food security during the Anglophone crisis

1.3.2 Specific research questions

What is the effect of food availability on the population of Bamenda III during the Anglophone crisis?

What is the effect of food accessibility on the population of Bamenda III during the crisis?

1.4 Research Objectives

1.4.1 Main Objective

The general objective of this study is to assess the comparative analysis of food security during the Anglophone crisis.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

To determine the effects of food availability on the Bamenda III inhabitants during the Anglophone crisis.

To determine the effects of food accessibility on the population of Bamenda III during the crisis.