ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL BARRIERS ON HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERY IN FAKO DIVISION, CAMEROON
This study assessed the impact of physical and infrastructural barriers on humanitarian aid delivery in Fako Division, Cameroon. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through interviews with 20 humanitarian aid workers representing national and international organizations, supplemented by reviews of recent humanitarian reports and logistics assessments. Thematic analysis identified five major issues: Poor road networks, seasonal weather disruptions, infrastructural damage and maintenance gaps, increased operational costs and delivery delays, and adaptive coping strategies. Findings also revealed that physical barriers such as impassable roads and flooding had a more immediate impact on aid timeliness, while infrastructural deficiencies, including damaged warehouses and unreliable electricity, reduced long-term efficiency. Both categories of barriers were found to jointly increase delivery costs and limit access to vulnerable populations. The study recommends infrastructure rehabilitation, improved logistical preparedness through pre-positioning and stronger community involvement to enhance humanitarian response effectiveness in conflict-affected areas of Cameroon.
Index Terms: Humanitarian aid delivery, Infrastructural barriers, Physical barriers.
