Angola encourages droughthit migrants to return home
EEMBAXU - Angolan Governor of the Cunene Province Gerdina Didalelwa said 1 400 Angolan citizens fled into Namibia as a result of the drought situation in their country. Of these, 150 are in the Ohangwena region, while 1250 are in Omusati, she said at Eeembaxu village in Ohangwena during her two-day working visit to the Namibia-Angola common border. Her trip was to interact with her Namibian counterparts from Ohangwena and Omusati on matters concerning unauthorised border crossings.
Didalelwa said Angola will do everything possible to mobilise and encourage its nationals now living in Namibia seeking humanitarian services to go back home, adding that “those registered would be taken back to Angola, while those not registered will be a big challenge”.
The Angolan authorities have put up three centres in the Cunene Province for displaced people due to the drought, and they are 350 at Santa Clara, 120 at Kahama and 620 at Calueque.
“We care for our people, and intend to provide them with assistance as per their needs,” she stated.
The first groups of migrants from Angola arrived in Omusati in March this year, claiming that a three-year drought situation and starvation forced them to flee in the hope of receiving humanitarian assistance and possible employment.
Didalelwa said a total of 590 000 Angolans are droughtstricken.
Several Namibian individuals, organisations and the Office of the Prime Minister came to the rescue of the fleeing Angolan nationals at Etunda in Omusati by donating food and other humanitarian commodities.
Without mentioning when the migrants will be repatriated to Angola, Didalelwa said her government would assist them better back home.
Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya noted at the same event that illegal crossings at the Namibia-Angola border had been an issue “since time immemorial”.
He indicated that he supports the proposals made in the presentations of various regional heads of department during the meeting of Tuesday for technical committees to be formed between the two countries in order to find a common solution on the matter.
An official communique was to be issued at a later stage after Didalelwa’s interaction with the authorities and Angolan nationals during her visit to Omusati yesterday.
Angolan Ambassador to Namibia, Jevelina Costa, also visited the migrants at Etunda in March, and promised them food, bedding and clothes, which are yet to be delivered.