Case Study
Building a Green Refugee Camp with UNHCR
Partners
Fast facts
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local jobs were created
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tons of cashews will be produced over 20 years
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tons of neem oil will be produced over 40 years
A unique collaboration
Sometimes unexpected partnerships lead to amazing results. Since 2017, the world’s largest humanitarian aid agency the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) and Land Life Company, supported by the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, have joined forces to build a Green Refugee Camp in the Far North of Cameroon.
Together with refugee and local communities, we have reforested more than 100 hectares of severely degraded land in and around Minawao Refugee Camp where 63,000 refugees live fleeing violence in neighbouring Nigeria. This initiative is providing jobs, shade, health and food for hundreds of refugee and local families.
Holistic approach
In Minawao, we are going beyond planting trees. Wood is being replaced as a fuel source with eco-friendly cooking alternatives produced in the camp. And sustainable, locally-sourced shelters are replacing plastic tents.
Find out more about this inspiring project at www.itwillbegreenagain.com.
Photo@Xavier Bourgeois_UNHCR
Photo@Xavier Bourgeois_UNHCR
Stories from the field
It Will Be Green Again
Check out our award-winning short documentary about the families living in Minawao, what brought them here and how they are building a more hopeful future for their children.
Find out more about this project
Together UNHCR and Land Life Company are setting a new standard of success for land restoration in refugee settings
Andrea Dekrout, Senior Environmental Coordinator UNHCR
Technology
Using drones and satellites we can track the reforestation impact around Minawao Camp in Northern Cameroon. As biomass increases, temperatures will drop and erosion will decrease.
Find out more about Land Life technologyWord from the team
On the ground
Harrie and Charlotte talk about their experiences in Cameroon planting thousands of trees with refugees.
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