In a significant humanitarian gesture, India has donated 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and essential medicines to Cameroon to support victims of the devastating 2024 floods in the country’s Far North Region.
The donation was officially handed over at a ceremony in Yaounde, jointly presided over by Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, and India’s High Commissioner to Cameroon, Vijay Khanduja.
According to the Indian High Commission in Cameroon, the assistance underscores India’s solidarity with Cameroon during times of crisis and reinforces its commitment to fostering South-South cooperation.
“This humanitarian gesture is aimed at supporting victims of the devastating floods that struck the Far North Region of Cameroon in 2024, reflecting India’s solidarity with the people of Cameroon during times of need,” the High Commission said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Earlier in April 2025, India dispatched the rice consignment from Nhava Sheva Port, marking a continuation of New Delhi’s commitment to being a reliable partner to the Global South.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: “India: A committed partner to the Global South. India sends food-grain assistance for the people of Cameroon. A consignment of 1000MT Rice departed today from Nhava Sheva Port to Cameroon.”
India and Cameroon share decades-long cordial relations, dating back to Cameroon’s independence in 1960. India established a resident High Commission in Yaounde in 2019, further boosting bilateral engagement.
Among previous collaborations, India operationalised a USD 37.65 million Line of Credit in 2009 to support rice and maize farm plantations in Cameroon. The project was completed in 2017.
India has also supported capacity-building efforts in Cameroon through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, offering over 180 training slots annually, and through scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
This latest donation not only reaffirms India’s humanitarian commitment but also reflects its growing role as a responsible development partner in Africa.