Clothing and bedding for 1000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Southern Cameroon.

This Project Phase #1 to provide clothing and bedding for 1000 internally displaced persons affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Southern Cameroon. This project supports a local center for collection of clothing items and bedding from well-wishers and distribution to displaced and deprived women, children and men. The funds raised will help to purchase clothing and bedding to be distributed along with those donated locally in-kind.

The ongoing civil unrest in Southern Cameroon has displaced an estimated 637,500 from their native villages and over 80,000 as refugees in Nigeria; due to the rampant killings and burning of their homes. Most of them are women and children, who had run away for safety only with whatever clothing they had on them! As philanthropic efforts by organizations/individuals focus mainly on the feeding of the IDPs; this initiative addresses their equally dire need for clothing and bedding.

Most well-wishers take mainly food items and sometimes mattresses as humanitarian aid to the thousands of internally displaced persons, generally overlooking their need for clothing and bedding. Some IDPs expressing satisfaction for the humanitarian gifts have been appealing for clothing too. This unique project builds on that, and fills that gap; with underwear, socks, outer clothing, cap, shoes, bed sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, mosquito nets, etc.
Long-Term Impact

The donated clothing and bedding will help beyond their displacement or after the hoped-for, eventual return to their native homes, and enable them to save the money they could have used for such purpose instead for the rebuilding of their ravaged homes. This project will also heal the psychological trauma the IDPs undergo, just by the piece of joy that comes with wearing something new or sleeping in new bed or bedding. The warm clothing and bedding will help to prevent malaria and pneumonia.