REFUGEE IN-FLOW FIGURE TOPS 10,000
THE number of refugees fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and being hosted at the Kenani transit centre in the north of Zambia has now passed the 10, 000 mark since August this year, UNHCR representative to Zambia, Ms Pierrine Aylara has confirmed.
And the Nchelenge district administration has agreed to expand the Kenani transit centre by providing more space. Ms Aylara said the newly allocated space can now accommodate an additional 1,000 refugee families and 5,000 individuals, as efforts were being mobilised to open a new permanent refugee settlement within the coming weeks. Kenani is Zambia’s largest refugee transit facility currently hosting 10,065 registered Congolese arrivals. “We passed the 10, 000 mark on Saturday, and more Congolese refugees are coming in from Chiengi. While for the whole country, numbers of new Congolese arrivals are nearing 14, 000," she said. However, the Government, UNHCR and partners, were as well working hand in hand to have Congolese refugees at Kenani transit centre as well as new arrivals relocated within weeks to the new permanent refugee settlement, called Mantapala - within Nchelenge District, with more space for improved facilities. Ms Aylara stressed the limited funding might hamper the timely relocation of refugees, adding the need for urgent funds required by humanitarian and development partners to repair the main access road to Mantapala and to open inner roads within the new refugee settlement. "The funds are further required to set up basic infrastructures such as health, water and sanitation and primary education facilities as well as other basic amenities," she said. She explained that while the majority of Congolese arrive through the Chiengi border area, then relocated to Kenani, some were crossing into Zambia through other entry points, such as Nsumbu, Kaputa, Nakonde and Mpulungu in Northern, Kapushi and Kakoma, in North Western and Kasumbalesa and Sakania, on the Copperbelt Province. They were then relocated to other refuge settlements of Meheba and Mayukwayukwa.