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PRESS RELEASE: UNHCR RESUMES LAST PHASE OF ANGOLAN REPATRIATION FROM ZAMBIA
Mongu – Zambia, Thursday 1 March, 2012The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today recommenced the organised Angolan voluntary repatriation from Zambia, with 37 refugees repatriating to Angola’s Huambo Province on one flight from Mongu Airport in Western Province.
UNHCR Representative in Zambia, Ms Joyce Mends-Cole, described the continuation of the Angolan organised voluntary repatriation in 2012 as a critical step in the search for durable solutions, before the invocation of the cessation clause on 30 June.
“UNHCR’s top priority for the Zambia Operation in 2012 is to support the achievement of durable solutions for Angolan and other refugees. The resumption today is simply a continuation of the Angolan repatriation exercise from last year. However, this phase in 2012 is special in that it marks the final stage of the Angolan voluntary repatriation, as from 30 June, cessation of refugee status will be invoked, which means that Angolan refugees will no longer be considered in need of international protection,” she explained. “There should be always an end to a protracted refugee situation and this one has lasted for forty years,” said Ms Mends-Cole.
Organised Angolan voluntary repatriation was initially undertaken between 2003 and 2007 during which a total of 74, 000 refugees were assisted to return home from Zambia’s camps and settlements. In addition, according to reports from Angola, thousands of self-settled refugees returned home on their own during that period.
Even after the official end of the organised voluntary repatriation in 2007, Angolan refugees continued to return home from the settlements of Meheba in North Western and Mayukwayukwa in Western Provinces, through spontaneous repatriation. A total 2, 500 Angolans returned home between 2007 and 2010 under this exercise.
The recommencement of the organised repatriation was agreed at the Fifth Tripartite meeting between the Government of Zambia, the Executive of Angolan and UNHCR held in Livingstone from 1 to 2 April 2011. Since the organized repatriation program resumed in June 2011, UNHCR has facilitated the return of almost 2,400 refugees to Angola. Another 7,000 refugees had expressed an intention to return and UNHCR is continuing its efforts to raise funds to ensure this occurs.
UNHCR is working in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which is facilitating logistics and transportation for the refugees from the settlements to the final destination in Angola.
Refugees participating in the repatriation will benefit from transport assistance and a re-integration package provided by the Angolan Executive upon return to Angola.
Some 22, 000 Angolans in the two settlements, urban areas and self-settled still reside in Zambia.
***ENDS***
Posted by
Zambiana
March 1, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Zambiana prays for all the repatriated to experience everlasting peace back home! Preach our peace there.
Air Mukwa_
March 1, 2012 at 7:37 pm
1.hope they won’t be treated like lepers as was the case with the lumpa sect that emigrated to drc after their founder alice (regina) leshina was incarcerate by kk in the early 70s. the lumpas stayed in drc by then zaire for more than 20 yrs and when they decided to come back in july 1984 to chishala they were misfits and couldn’t copy with zed fast life. so many went back & few remained. those who went back to drc became great farmer but the problem they are facing is not practicing intermarriage.
2.these refugees were under unita of the general jonas malheiro savimbi and some still think the general is alive it is just the propaganda the current gvt of president jose eduardo dos santos.
Air Mukwa_
March 1, 2012 at 7:41 pm
1.hope they won’t be treated like lepers as was the case with the lumpa sect that emigrated to drc after their founder alice (regina) leshina was incarcerate by kk in the early 70s. the lumpas stayed in drc by then zaire for more than 20 yrs and when they decided to come back in july 1984 to chisali they were misfits and couldn’t copy with zed fast life. so many went back & few remained. those who went back to drc became great farmer but the problem they are facing is not practicing intermarriage.
2.these refugees were under unita of the general jonas malheiro savimbi and some still think the general is alive it is just the propaganda of the current gvt of president jose eduardo dos santos.
mwine pano namwansanga pano
March 1, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Hahaha!nor wonder we have confusions in de western province those numbers released vry alarming rem we had an MP a refugee hey!!pipo in charge of repatriation speed up the process,and now its clear we have foreigners pushing over de BA64 destroyers.
its2late
March 1, 2012 at 8:24 pm
wish all the repatriatees peace & harmony in there home country. preach the gudmaners u ve learnt frm zambians of course not mamaners emmanuel banda who claim to be a pastor yet he is just a handful of a humaniza.
Lozi Bull
March 1, 2012 at 8:35 pm
May the Grace of God be in their midist,
May Peace,love,& harmony prevail where ever they will be.
Miss G
March 1, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Iye, am sad. My hot-romantic-kizomba dancing boyfrend z oso going… Nevathles i wish thm o th peace tht hs eluded them. Afta o, therz no plc lyk hom…
Kasa
March 1, 2012 at 11:11 pm
God be with u
p
March 2, 2012 at 7:09 am
They miss home
GUN
March 2, 2012 at 7:55 am
I thank God for the peace and stability we have in zambia although we have no brains to translate that to meaningful development.
TRIPOLI
March 2, 2012 at 8:11 am
GO WELL MY BROTHERS WISH YOU WELL IN THE LAND OF YOUR FATHERS.
Teleshi Kabemba
March 2, 2012 at 8:53 am
May GOD bless you people as you settle with your friends and relatives in Angola.Share your good days during your stay in our Christian Nation.Once again may GOD bless you.
bashi chalwe
March 2, 2012 at 5:02 pm
OK BYE BANE, ITS TYM U LEFT OUR LAND… IN CASE ANOTHER SAVIMBI ARISES UR MO THAN WELCOME TO OUR EVER PEACEFUL LAND… GOD BE WITH U EN TAKE