Information sharing, health care and food security for Baka, Cameroon

Background

Climate change and unplanned development programs by Cameroon has been adversely affecting the Baka Pygmies of Djoum, whose livelihoods depended on gathering non-timber forest products and hunting of slower animals just for food. They are also shifting to farming of food crops and also in agro-forestry (cocoa and fruit tree planting) to complement the already degrading traditional livelihoods and to reduce pressure on the remaining forest resources. Coronavirus pandemic has a greater challenge on these people as lockdown has been imposed on them; they lack basic hygienic materials to be able to protect themselves from the pandemic. The fact that this is the beginning of the rainy season and the just-ending dry season has devastated the forest canopy which is still to regenerate. The stock of food has been exhausted. The Baka pygmies had to trek for long distances to do their gathering and hunting, while some of them had to engage in working for the Bantus just for food while waiting for their farms to be ready.

The advent of the coronavirus pandemic has brought a halt to all livelihoods activities due to lockdown and the restriction of intercommunities’ exchange. The Baka pygmies are exposed to the virus; hunger and malnutrition as they are asked to reduce their mobility leading to food insecurity; and also inexistence of measures towards the prevention of coronavirus pandemic. Hunting of slower animals, which was done mostly at night, has been prohibited.

It is within this background that this project is intended to provide COVID-related and health care needs, food needs and basic necessities. In particular, to provide food and basic necessities for women and children who are the most vulnerable and mostly affected during pandemics and crises. The project will also undertake dissemination of information in their local language on the coronavirus and measures to observe to fight against the pandemic.

Project Objective

Reduce the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the indigenous Baka Pygmies of Djoum

The target beneficiaries are the neediest and vulnerable members of Baka communities of Nyabibete, Nveng, Miata, Djouze and Abing on Bulu axes and Nkan and Minkoo on Fang axes. One thousand (1000) persons of very poor backgrounds will directly benefit from this project, many of them women, youths and children. The beneficiaries are 223 men above 30 yrs. of age, 405 women above 25 years of age and 372 youths from 05 to 25 years old.