Lusaka – Zambia: As part of the build-up to World Refugee Day which is celebrated on 20 June every year, several refugees, the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees in the Ministry of Home Affairs, UNHCR and other humanitarian actors including Caritas Czech Republic and Africa Action Help (AAH Zambia), cleaned Bauleni Clinic in Lusaka earlier today.

As part of their corporate social responsibility, the refugee community decided to target a health clinic in the context of furthering the Government’s “Keep Zambia Healthy, Clean and Green” campaign.

Emile Hatungimana, the Refugees’ Chairman General in Lusaka, called upon the refugee community to continue peaceful co-existence, law-abiding and living in harmony with the host community.

“As a refugee leader, I’d like to call upon fellow refugees to continue co-existing in peace and living in harmony with the host community. Also, we should continue being part of community’s activities like keeping our surrounding cleaner and greener. This year, together with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, Caritas, AAHZ and Africa Self Help and other partners, we have decided to clean Bauleni Clinic as part of our social responsibility,” said Hatungimana.

UNHCR Representative to Zambia, Ms. Pierrine Aylara, who was represented by UNHCR staff, thanked the Ministry of Health for its continued cooperation with UNHCR and refugees in matters regarding health and sanitation. The Ministry of Health provides health services in seven other clinics in Meheba and Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlements.

“The effective capacity of the Ministry of Health has helped in streamlining the administration of health services in the refugee settlements for the benefit of refugees and Zambians,” said Ms. Aylara. ”As UNHCR, our wish is to see a symbiotic relationship between refugees and the host community, anchored on a health population geared towards contributing positively to Zambia’s economic productivity.”

The World Refugee Day will be commemorated on Wednesday 20 June, under the theme: WE STAND TOGETHER #WITHREFUGEES. Commemorations will be held in Lusaka at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, as well as in Meheba, Mayukwayukwa and Mantapala Refugee Settlements, located in North-Western, Western and Luapula Provinces, respectively