Cameroon Report – YAOUNDE
The UN Secretary-General is shocked by the news of a horrific attack on a school in the city of Kumba, in Cameroon’s South-West Region, on 24 October, in which several children were reportedly killed and several others wounded, his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement.
The attack is another disturbing reminder of the exacting heavy toll on civilians, including children, many of whom have been deprived of their right to education, according to the statement.
Attacks on education facilities are a grave violation of children’s rights.
Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished a swift recovery to the wounded.
He urged the Cameroonian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
He also called on all armed actors to refrain from attacks against civilians and to respect international humanitarian and international human rights law.
Guterres strongly urged the parties to answer his call for a global ceasefire.
He reiterated the availability of the United Nations to support an inclusive dialogue process leading to a resolution of the crisis in the North-West and South West regions of Cameroon.
Violence in the Anglophone regions over the last three years has claimed an estimated 3,000 lives and caused the displacement of over 730,000 civilians, according to the Human Rights Watch.
In June, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said for a second year running Cameroon topped the list as the most neglected crisis on the planet in 2019.
