CAR Refugees and Host Communities in the East Region of Cameroon

Never before had Cameroon merited its reputation as a safe haven for refugees as it is the case today. In recent years, this country, which is already home to hundreds of thousands of refugees, has been experiencing a quasi exponential and steady rise in the influx of such populations from neighbouring countries, as a result of the numerous conflicts affecting this part of the world. Refugees from the Central African Republic have therefore settled in many parts of Cameroon, especially in the East region of the country. Meantime, literature on refugees in Cameroon has focused almost exclusively on issues of protection and to some extent, voluntary repatriation, thereby neglecting the desirable or detrimental impact on their hosts. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the socio-economic impact that the local integration and settlement of Central African refugees in the East region of Cameroon has on host communities. Based on qualitative research methods, there is theoretical and empirical evidence that host communities benefit a great deal from humanitarian projects and other economic opportunities brought about by the presence of refugees in the region.