UNHCR Targets Self-Reliance for Nearly 349,000 Refugees in Cameroon Under ’50 by 35′ Plan

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has outlined its "50 by 35" initiative aimed at expanding self-reliance and lasting solutions for nearly 349,000 refugees in Cameroon by 2035. The strategy addresses prolonged displacement, with the agency noting in a September 2026 report that the majority of refugees in the country have lived in protracted situations for years.

According to UNHCR, Cameroon currently hosts more than 414,000 refugees, the majority of whom originate from the Central African Republic and Nigeria. The agency reported that over 84 percent of the refugee population in Cameroon has been displaced for more than five years, while nearly 8 percent has experienced displacement for more than 15 years.

Globally, UNHCR stated that nearly 70 percent of refugees live in protracted displacement. While humanitarian aid is designed to save lives, the agency emphasized that it was not intended to sustain populations indefinitely.

The global "50 by 35" initiative aims to halve the number of refugees in protracted situations who depend on humanitarian aid by 2035 by promoting inclusion, self-reliance, and sustainable solutions. In Cameroon, achieving these goals will depend on collaboration among government authorities, development organizations, the private sector, financial institutions, host communities, and the refugees themselves.

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