More Congolese refugees flood in

A new influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has arrived in neighbouring Zambia, UNHCR reported on Thursday. More than 1,000 refugees have arrived in Kaputa in Zambia’s Northern Province. The UNHCR wants to transfer them to Zambia’s Kala refugee camp as soon as possible, which reportedly hosts more than 2,000 people. UNHCR said about 500 DRC soldiers have also crossed the border and are now in Kaputa. But until they renounce their military status, give up their weapons and seek asylum the UNHCR said it would not assist the troops. Unconfirmed reports suggest some of the troops are trying to get to Lubumbashi in southern DRC via northern Zambia. UNHCR warned that it was short of trucks to transport the refugees to Kala and that unless they were transferred soon there would be a likelihood of multiple outbreaks of disease. The refugees are escaping renewed fighting in eastern DRC where rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda are trying to overthrow the government of President Laurent-Desire Kabila. Kabila is receiving military assistance from Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.