Zambia operates open asylum policy - minister

ZAMBIA has been implementing an open door asylum policy which has enabled thousands of asylum seekers and refugees to seek sanctuary in the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji has said.

Speaking during the 32rd ordinary session of the executive council in Addis Ababa when he made a presentation on the report of the political and humanitarian situation in Africa yesterday, Mr Malanji said the number of asylum seekers and refugees entering Zambia had continued to increase.

Mr Malanji observed that many former refugees had opted to remain in Zambia under the local integration programme.

Mr Malanji said as of January 23 2018, Zambia has hosted close to 63,809 refugees and persons mostly from the great lakes region. Mr Malanji said Government had recently opened up another refugee settlement in the Northern part of Zambia to accommodate the growing number of refugees and it has been mobilising resources to support resettlement areas and surrounding communities.

He said the support was targeted mainly at infrastructure development such as roads, schools and health facilities in areas surrounding refugee camps.

He added that Zambia recognised the security concerns and the economic strain that hosting a number of refugees entails.

And Mr Malanji emphasised the need for the international community to address peace and security situation on the continent, adding that it has not been spared by human traffickers and smugglers.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Political Affairs Dr Aisha Abdullah also presented the Humanitarian Situation in Africa report said there were initiatives that the AU had put in place to tackle the problem of refugees on the continent.

Dr Abdullah said it was unfortunate that the 70 percent of refugees were fleeing their countries as a result of war.