In a sobering revelation, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has named Cameroon as the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis in its latest annual report, displacing Burkina Faso from the top spot.

The Scandinavian humanitarian organization cites a dangerous trifecta of inadequate humanitarian funding, scant media coverage, and dwindling international political engagement as key drivers of the neglect.

Cameroon is battling three protracted and overlapping crises: insurgencies linked to armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin, ongoing unrest in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions, and spillover instability from neighboring Central African Republic.

Together, these conflicts have pushed the nation into a state of persistent humanitarian emergency, affecting millions and forcing over 1.1 million people from their homes.

By early 2024, an estimated 3.4 million Cameroonians were in urgent need of assistance and protection.

Despite the mounting humanitarian needs, the NRC reports that only 45 per cent of the required aid funding has been met. Media attention has remained alarmingly low, and political will among international stakeholders is virtually absent.

“Cameroon’s crisis is a case study in global neglect,” stated the NRC. “It’s underreported, underfunded, and ignored politically. Without a renewed commitment from the global community, the outlook for 2025 appears even more grim.”

NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland attributed this worsening trend to growing nationalism and shifting priorities among traditional donor nations. “The world is turning inward,” he warned. “Across Europe, the United States, and beyond, donors are stepping back when people need them the most.”

Indeed, massive budget cuts, including the dismantling of USAID by former U.S. President Donald Trump and defence-spending increases across Europe, have exacerbated the crisis, reflecting a shift away from global solidarity at a critical time.

Cameroon’s plight underscores the urgent need to rekindle international focus on forgotten crises, where millions suffer in silence.