Geography:
Cameroon is located in Western Africa, and is sometimes referred to as the "hinge of Africa." Its bordering countries include Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. It also has a western border on the waters of the Bight of Biafra. Cameroon's northern savanna region is hot and dry most of the year, with an average temperature of about 82 degress Farenheit; the central plateau is cooler, with an average temperature of about 75 degrees Farneheit; the coastal region is hot and humid, sometimes receiving up to 200 inches of rain per year and having an average temperature of abput 80 degrees Farenheit. Throughout history, there has been volcanic activity in Cameroon with periodic releases of poisonous gases from the Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes. Of all the volcanoes in West Africa, Mount Cameroon is the most frequently active, its last eruption occurring in 2000. In 1986, lakes in the Oku volcanic field released fatal levels of gases, killing some 1,700 people. A big problem with the location of this country are that its population is exposed to waterborne diseases. Also, some geographical problems are deforestation, overgrazing, desertification, poaching, and overfishing (CIA).
Sunset behind Mount Cameroon
Economic Status:
Economists say Cameroon has a very high economic potential, and is blessed with a variety of human and natural resources. The reason they believe this is because Cameroon is one of the best-endowed primary economies for exporting commodities such as minerals, timber, oil, and bananas. Cameroon has favorable agricultural conditions and modest oil resources (Ntaryike). The GDP per capita is estimated at $2,300, ranking it 183 highest highest in the world (CIA). Although Cameroon has some strengths, they also have several weaknesses and disadvantages. The country is faced with stagnant per capita income, a top-heavy civil service, an endemic coruption, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise, which are all serious problems faced by other underdeveloped countries (CIA). Cameroon remains one of the lowest-ranked economies on the World Bank's annual Doing Business and similar surveys, and regularly ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world (Bureau of Public Affairs).
Poverty, Violation of Human Rights, Health Issues, etc:
Cameroon is faced with many significant problems that affect the lives of the people living there. The percentage of people in Cameroon below the poverty line is 48 percent. Over half of cameroon's population of 18 million lives on only $2 of US dollars per day. The unemployment rate in Cameroon is 30 percent, which is ranked 175 in all countries across the world (CIA). About half of the people living in Cameroon lack sustainable access to safe sanitation, along with one-third of the population that lacks a sustainable access to safe water (DRI).
People living in Cameroon’s eastern and northern regions are struggling to share their limited access to basic services – potable water, health care and education – with a continuous and ever-shifting refugee population fleeing the Central African Republic. In Adamaoua and East Provinces, the acute malnutrition rate is about 8.5%, which is close to emergency threshold levels. Such high levels of undernutrition render the population vulnerable to disease and leave them unprepared for natural disasters (UNICEF). 22.8 percent of children under the age of 5 die from malaria, and 7 percent of the entire population die from AIDS (DRI). Cameroon's death rate is 11.83 deaths/1,000 population, making it the 30th highest death rate in the world (CIA).
Getting access to safe water is difficult
Reasons for Situation:
There are numerous reasons for Cameroon being in such an unfortunate situation. First, Cameroon's progress is hampered by a level of corruption that is among the highest in the world (BBC News). Also, in 2010, flooding and cholera in the north took their toll, and the already precarious existence of many women and children was made even more so. Now, in 2011, there iss a significant cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 500 people since August 1 (UNICEF). Lastly, 3,500 refugees who fled from Chad in 2008 remain at the Longi camp in Nord Province. Refugees coming into Cameroon, which has very limited access to basic services, has resulted in a greater population due to more people, and fewer of those people's basic needs being met. There is not enough to go around.
Thousands seek refuge in Cameroon
People's Outlook on Cameroon's Status:
Economists say Cameroon has a very high economic potential, and is blessed with a variety of human and natural resources. The reason they believe this is because Cameroon is one of the best-endowed primary economies for exporting commodities such as minerals, timber, oil, and bananas (Ntaryike). Corruption is an ongoing factor that is holding Cameroon back from prospering to their full potential. Experts believe that if the existing regulations for customs and investment are improved, then corruption may be reduced. A man named Olivier Behle believes that a coalition is needed between the commission, civil society and private business, or else underdevelopment, unemployment, and insecurity will continue to rise (Ntaryike). “I’ll be satisfied only by results; I cannot say it’s OK, so I’m waiting,” says Garga Haman Adji, a politician and former government minister and member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Ntaryike). The attitude of this man shows how much people acknowledge the ongoing problems in Cameroon and don't take them as a joke. Change is needed, and this change will not happen unless people make a true effort to stop corruption and fix the economy.
"One of the difficulties in this country is that people make a lot of noise about corruption but they end there," one diplomat who advises the Cameroon government on anti-graft strategies said (Forminyen).
"They are all a clique. If I report (what happened), I would be out of business and with the way the courts and police are corrupt, you would end up in prison instead," said a trader, who did not want to be named (Forminyen).
"Cholera is eminently treatable," said UNICEF Representative in Cameroon Musu Clemens-Hope. "If you get cholera, you treat it with antibiotics, you get rehydration and you will be cured (UNICEF)."
Works Cited
“Africa: Cameroon.” CIA - The World Factbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html>.
“Bureau of Public Affairs: Cameroon.” U.S. Department of State. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26431.htm>.
“Cameroon.” worldbookonline.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar089600>.
“Cameroon Profile.” BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13146029>.
Forminyen, George. “Why Corruption is Cameroon’s Worst-kept Secret.” trust.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/anti-corruption-views/why-corruption-is-cameroons-worst-kept-secret>.
Smolowe, Jill. “Cameroon the Lake of Death.” www.time.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962228,00.html>.
“West and Central Africa Cameroon.” UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.unicef.org/hac2011/hac_cameroon.php>.
Geography:
Cameroon is located in Western Africa, and is sometimes referred to as the "hinge of Africa." Its bordering countries include Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. It also has a western border on the waters of the Bight of Biafra. Cameroon's northern savanna region is hot and dry most of the year, with an average temperature of about 82 degress Farenheit; the central plateau is cooler, with an average temperature of about 75 degrees Farneheit; the coastal region is hot and humid, sometimes receiving up to 200 inches of rain per year and having an average temperature of abput 80 degrees Farenheit. Throughout history, there has been volcanic activity in Cameroon with periodic releases of poisonous gases from the Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes. Of all the volcanoes in West Africa, Mount Cameroon is the most frequently active, its last eruption occurring in 2000. In 1986, lakes in the Oku volcanic field released fatal levels of gases, killing some 1,700 people. A big problem with the location of this country are that its population is exposed to waterborne diseases. Also, some geographical problems are deforestation, overgrazing, desertification, poaching, and overfishing (CIA).
Economic Status:
Economists say Cameroon has a very high economic potential, and is blessed with a variety of human and natural resources. The reason they believe this is because Cameroon is one of the best-endowed primary economies for exporting commodities such as minerals, timber, oil, and bananas. Cameroon has favorable agricultural conditions and modest oil resources (Ntaryike). The GDP per capita is estimated at $2,300, ranking it 183 highest highest in the world (CIA). Although Cameroon has some strengths, they also have several weaknesses and disadvantages. The country is faced with stagnant per capita income, a top-heavy civil service, an endemic coruption, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise, which are all serious problems faced by other underdeveloped countries (CIA). Cameroon remains one of the lowest-ranked economies on the World Bank's annual Doing Business and similar surveys, and regularly ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world (Bureau of Public Affairs).
Poverty, Violation of Human Rights, Health Issues, etc:
Cameroon is faced with many significant problems that affect the lives of the people living there. The percentage of people in Cameroon below the poverty line is 48 percent. Over half of cameroon's population of 18 million lives on only $2 of US dollars per day. The unemployment rate in Cameroon is 30 percent, which is ranked 175 in all countries across the world (CIA). About half of the people living in Cameroon lack sustainable access to safe sanitation, along with one-third of the population that lacks a sustainable access to safe water (DRI).
People living in Cameroon’s eastern and northern regions are struggling to share their limited access to basic services – potable water, health care and education – with a continuous and ever-shifting refugee population fleeing the Central African Republic. In Adamaoua and East Provinces, the acute malnutrition rate is about 8.5%, which is close to emergency threshold levels. Such high levels of undernutrition render the population vulnerable to disease and leave them unprepared for natural disasters (UNICEF). 22.8 percent of children under the age of 5 die from malaria, and 7 percent of the entire population die from AIDS (DRI). Cameroon's death rate is 11.83 deaths/1,000 population, making it the 30th highest death rate in the world (CIA).
Reasons for Situation:
There are numerous reasons for Cameroon being in such an unfortunate situation. First, Cameroon's progress is hampered by a level of corruption that is among the highest in the world (BBC News). Also, in 2010, flooding and cholera in the north took their toll, and the already precarious existence of many women and children was made even more so. Now, in 2011, there iss a significant cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 500 people since August 1 (UNICEF). Lastly, 3,500 refugees who fled from Chad in 2008 remain at the Longi camp in Nord Province. Refugees coming into Cameroon, which has very limited access to basic services, has resulted in a greater population due to more people, and fewer of those people's basic needs being met. There is not enough to go around.
People's Outlook on Cameroon's Status:
Economists say Cameroon has a very high economic potential, and is blessed with a variety of human and natural resources. The reason they believe this is because Cameroon is one of the best-endowed primary economies for exporting commodities such as minerals, timber, oil, and bananas (Ntaryike). Corruption is an ongoing factor that is holding Cameroon back from prospering to their full potential. Experts believe that if the existing regulations for customs and investment are improved, then corruption may be reduced. A man named Olivier Behle believes that a coalition is needed between the commission, civil society and private business, or else underdevelopment, unemployment, and insecurity will continue to rise (Ntaryike). “I’ll be satisfied only by results; I cannot say it’s OK, so I’m waiting,” says Garga Haman Adji, a politician and former government minister and member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Ntaryike). The attitude of this man shows how much people acknowledge the ongoing problems in Cameroon and don't take them as a joke. Change is needed, and this change will not happen unless people make a true effort to stop corruption and fix the economy.
Works Cited
“Africa: Cameroon.” CIA - The World Factbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html>.
“Bureau of Public Affairs: Cameroon.” U.S. Department of State. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26431.htm>.
“Cameroon.” worldbookonline.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar089600>.
“Cameroon Profile.” BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13146029>.
Forminyen, George. “Why Corruption is Cameroon’s Worst-kept Secret.” trust.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/anti-corruption-views/why-corruption-is-cameroons-worst-kept-secret>.
Smolowe, Jill. “Cameroon the Lake of Death.” www.time.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962228,00.html>.
“West and Central Africa Cameroon.” UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.unicef.org/hac2011/hac_cameroon.php>.