Atanga Nji Paul, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration has called for more international solidarity towards the catering of refugees worldwide. He made the clarion call on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the opening session of the 77th Executive Committee meeting of the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees. Cameroon is attending the five days meeting which runs from Monday October 12 to October 16, 2026. The high-level meeting brings together delegates, Non-governmental Organisations and refugees management stakeholders from across the globe. Atanga Nji Paul’s call for more committed international solidarity comes at a time when there is a surge in the number of refugees globally while international funding is dwindling.
It is worthy to recall here that Cameroon is host to over 288,000 to 332,000 Central African Republic refugees and asylum-seekers, according to recent data from the UNHCR Cameroon Country Office. Most of the Central African Republic refugees live in towns, villages, and local communities in the East, Adamawa, and North regions of Cameroon. There are also approximately 120,000 Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon as of September 2026.
Under the high esteem of President Paul Biya, Cameroon has been considered as a haven for welcoming refugees and catering for them, reason the UNHCR, Cameroon, Central African Republic and the Nigerian governments have often adopted the posture of voluntary repatriation of refugees, when conditions back home are favourable for their safe return and integration.
Barham Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in his opening remarks to the 77th session of the Executive Committee said, it was a great honour to address the Executive Committee for the first time as High Commissioner for Refugees.
“Before I begin, allow me to express my deepest solidarity with the people of Panama following the powerful earthquake that struck the country last week. Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered loss, injury, and displacement as a result of that tragedy. We commend the efforts of the Panamanian authorities, local communities, and humanitarian partners responding under very difficult circumstances,” he added.
High Commissioner Barham Salih stated, “ Nine months into this role, I am conscious of the history of this Office, the trust placed in it, and above all, the people at the heart of our mandate: those forced to leave their homes and communities. I come to this responsibility with a deeply personal perspective. I know what it means to need protection. And I know the difficult decisions governments must take. And I understand how profoundly those decisions can shape people’s lives.”
The High Commissioner for Refugees admitted that the pressures are real and the challenges many given that conflicts are becoming more protracted, displacement lasts longer while resources are shrinking. He added that new emergencies demand immediate action, while millions of people displaced by older crises are still waiting to rebuild their lives.
Barham Salih intimated that it is a difficult moment for UNHCR. But it is also a reminder of why UNHCR remains relevant, vital and indispensable. He said people forced to flee need protection. Countries and communities receiving them need support. And refugees need more than survival.They need to recover control over their lives and, ultimately, find a solution to their displacement.
