LAW No 2024/015 OF 2 3 DEC 2024
GOVERNING CIVIL PROTECTION IN CAMEROON
# CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTIoN 1: (1) This law governs civil protection in Cameroon.
As such, it shall:
lay down rules relating to the prevention of risks and management of disasters and humanitarian crises nationwide, regardless of type, origin and scale; guarantee safety and public order, protection of people, property and the environment before, during and after disaster.
The provisions of this law shall apply nationwide in the Republic of Cameroon, and to all areas of civil protection, in accordance with international conventions, treaties and agreements duly ratified by Cameroon. (The Ministry in charge of civil protection shall be responsible for formulating and implementing the national civil protection policy.
SECTION 2: In particular, this law:
defines the civil protection coordination and implementation mechanisms: identifies civil protection resources - lays down conditions for funding civil protection: -fixes criminal penalties in civil protection matters.
SECTION 3: Civil protection shall be based on integrated and comprehensive procedures comprising prevention, preparedness, response and recovery measures.
(2) The measures referred to in (1) above shall notably seek to ensure consistency in ail stakehoider actions nationwide through appropriate organization, mechanisms and procedures so as to:
protect human life and property; - safeguard the environment: inform and involve the populace rdce the vulnerability f the population and develo resilence skills;
foster and strengthen national and international solidarity in the face of risks and disasters.
SECTION 4: Specific risks shall be managed in accordance with the provisions of this law, separate instruments and international conventions to which Cameroon is party.
SECTioN 5: The State and Regional and Local Authorities shall ensure the inclusion of the risk reduction and disaster preparedness and response procedure into national, regional and local development policies, plans, programmes and projects.
# CHAPTER II DEFINITIONS
SECTIoN 6: Within the meaning of this law and its implementing instruments, the following definitions shall apply:
hazard: natural or man-made event or condition that could cause loss of human lives, injury or other health effects, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, socio-economic disruption or environmental damage;
early warning: specific procedure to detect any change in the usual observed frequency of phenomena;
humanitarian assistance: all-inclusive assistance in kind or cash, intended to alleviate the suffering of disaster victims after the emergency relief phase. It includes food, health, psychosocial and educational assistance, as well as temporary accommodation for disaster victims;
disaster: serious disruption in the functioning of a community or society involving substantial human, material, economic or environmental impacts and losses that the affected community or society cannot overcome with its own resources only;
man-made disaster: disasters caused by human activity, including biotechnological, bioiogical, industrial and nuciear disasters, and transport and terrorist-related disasters;
natural disaster: disasters caused by natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, gas emanations, mass movements (mudslides, bush fires and landslides, etc.), floods, droughts, storms, etc;