3,000 Congolese flee into Zambia
By SANDRA MACHIMA
MORE than 3,300 Congolese have fled into Zambia in fear of violence in their country and that situation has raised concern to the UN Refugee Agency.
UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said in Geneva that the agency was concerned about growing violence in parts of South-Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which had driven more than 3,300 refugees into northern Zambia since August 30.
This has been described as the largest influx of Congolese refugees into Zambia in the past five years, and has caused UNHCR worry that the insecurity in the DRC may lead to more displacement.
Since the beginning of 2017, about 5,761 Congolese have crossed the border into Zambia. There were about 27,338 Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in the country in total, among a population of 60,606 refugees and asylum seekers.
And because of overcrowding, Mr Mahecic said UNHCR has started working on a second transit facility to receive the growing number of new arrivals.
He said a more permanent settlement would be developed, with a social infrastructure where new arrivals would be able to stay for longer and develop some self-sufficiency.
Mr Mahecic noted that lack of roads and the long distances at the areas from where they were fleeing made it difficult to monitor the situation and provide them with assistance.
And UNHCR has however warned that the humanitarian needs of those displaced could intensify on both sides of the border, with the rainy season approaching.
The refugees and asylum-seekers are escaping inter-ethnic clashes, as well as fighting between Congolese security forces and militia groups, and those arriving in Zambia report extreme brutality, with civilians being killed, women raped, property looted and houses set alight.”