Around 23,000 refugees — including around 13,000 children — from the Central African Republic live in the GADO refugee site in the East region of Cameroon. Children growing up in this environment face many challenges including the loss of education, and the risk of early marriage. A girl, 10, stands at the entrance of the refugees’ site.

Most families cook in the open air and live in shelters with a minimum essential standard of living. Older girls help their mothers to take care of younger siblings and with household chores. A young girl plays with left-over firewood used for cooking by families.

Refugee children participate in the daily life of the refugee camp despite their hands and shoulders being smaller than adults and not strong enough for what they need to carry out. A boy helps his father collect firewood.

Sadness is visible on some children’s faces; some still remember their homeland. Child refugees attend a temporary learning and protection space supported by UNICEF, providing children with access to education, protection and psycho-social support.

Access to clean water is vital for refugee children. And here, collecting water is a child’s responsibility, walking a long distance to fetch water. Through its partner NGO AIDER, UNICEF provides refugees in this site with drinking water, hygiene and sanitation facilities.