Resettlement Challenges and the Plight of Lake Nyos Disaster Survivors in Cameroon Since 1986

Abstract: This study investigates the resettlement initiatives for survivors of the Lake Nyos disaster in Menchum Division, Northwest Cameroon, following the catastrophic gas eruption of 1986. It posits that while multiple local, national, and international efforts were mobilized to aid the displaced population, these resettlement interventions were predominantly insufficient and poorly executed. The analysis further argues that the resettled communities’ aspirations and needs remain unmet, primarily due to government actions that lacked responsiveness to local realities and the inefficacy of overarching resettlement strategies. Employing a qualitative methodology that incorporates interviews, archival documents, and secondary sources, the study critically examines the resettlement challenges encountered by Lake Nyos disaster survivors. The findings underscore key deficiencies in the resettlement efforts, including excessive bureaucratic centralization, corruption, and the systematic exclusion of local perspectives, which have exacerbated the socio-economic vulnerabilities of the displaced population. This paper also identifies a significant gap in the literature, as scholars have largely neglected the long-term socio-economic impacts of resettlement policies and the failure to integrate displaced communities into sustainable post-disaster recovery frameworks. Keywords: Lake Nyos Disaster, Survivors, Displacement, Resettlement, Socio-economic Vulnerability. Title: Resettlement Challenges and the Plight of Lake Nyos Disaster Survivors in Cameroon Since 1986 Author: Aloysius Nyuymengka Ngalim, Vitalis Song Yamsa International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 2, April 2025 - June 2025 Page No: 219-236 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 07-May-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15355606 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/resettlement-challenges-and-the-plight-of-lake-nyos-disaster-survivors-in-cameroon-since-1986