EU delegation visits Luapula refugees
By Staff Reporter
European Union (EU) head of mission Alessandro Mariani led a delegation that visited refugees in Nchelenge district, Luapula Province to familiarise with the situation there.
Increased internal conflicts in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo last year saw an influx of refugees into Zambia.
Ambassador Mariani was accompanied to Kenani Transit Centre and Mantapala Refugee Settlement by French envoy Sylvain Berger, Italian Ambassador to Zambia Filippo Scammacca, and the UK’s Department for International Development country representative Mark Richardson.
“European Union wishes to congratulate Zambia for having welcomed so many refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and for providing assistance to all of them in line with Zambia’s long-standing tradition, which is exemplary to the entire world,” said Ambassador Mariani in a statement released by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees press office after the tour on Thursday.
The team expressed utmost appreciation to the work done by UNHCR and other UN agencies present on the ground.
Ambassador Mariani stated that works done so far showed the effectiveness of the UN system working as one with the financial support they received, including from EU member states and EU institutions.
And Home Affairs Deputy Permanent Secretary Willies Manjimela said the newly established facility required more support.
He stated that a relocation plan was being implemented, with 342 refugees already relocated to the new settlement.
“As government, your presence is a clear testimony of the importance that the European Union and its member countries attach to humanitarian issues, in particular the Congolese refugee influx into Zambia in the spirit of burden-sharing. We are pleased for the efforts they continue to make in supporting the government of Zambia to look after refugees,” stated Manjimela.
“I wish to express the government’s deep appreciation to the Federal Republic of Germany and government of the Republic of Italy for positively responding to the call by President Edgar Lungu for the international community to support the Congolese emergency in Zambia. Italy contributed two hundred and fifty thousand (250, 000) Euros to the Zambia refugee programme, while German contributed one million United States dollars (US$ 1,000, 000) for Zambia and Angola.”
Other than Manjimela, the EU delegation was accompanied by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Abdon Mawere, and Nchelenge district commissioner and council chairman. Between January 1, 2017 and February 12 this year, the cumulative number of Congolese registered in Zambia has stood at 19, 134 catering for Nchelenge, Lusaka, Meheba and Mayukwayukwa.
Of this total, the cumulative number of Congolese refugees registered in Kenani as of February 12 stood at 14, 771.
These entered mainly through Chiengi border, while 4, 363 crossed through other entry points.
