Members of the United Nations Youth Leaders Network have taken part in a workshop on the theme “Youth facing the challenges of cross-border crime and the challenges of peace building in Cameroon."
The workshop was organised in Yaoundé during an extraordinary general assembly organised to elaborate their 2015 plan of action. The UN youth leaders used the occasion to lobby for humanitarian assistance and a greater involvement of the United Nations in preventing a Humanitarian crisis in the Far North Region of Cameroon.
According to the youth leaders the closure of more than 100 schools in the zones susceptible to Boko Haram attacks have caused several children to miss an academic year.
The president of the network indicated that the fighting has lead to a significant drop in food production at a time when thousands of refugees fleeing the insurgency in Nigeria have sought refuge in the Far North Region.
The rapid population increase and drop in productivity is likely to result in famine if urgent measures are not taken by the UN and quickly.
For their part the youth leaders are looking forward to organising a national sensitisation campaign on the culture of peace and conflict resolution in Cameroon wit the vision of making youths become peace crusaders and change making supporting the soldiers and families affected by insecurity in the Far North Region. They also plan to mobilise aid to assist victims of the Boko Haram incursions in the Region.
