The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has started transporting about 1,100 Angolan refugees who recently entered the North Western province of Zambia, an IOM spokesman, Thomas Weiss, said on Friday. The first convoy of six IOM hired buses and trucks carrying some 360 refugees accompanied by nurses and police officers left Maheba camp, located about 80 km from Solwezi, south of the Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border. Weiss said the convoy was expected to complete its 1,200-km journey to Ukwimi in the Eastern Province in 2 days.
“This camp, located some 70 km from Petauke, has better facilities and is at a safe distance from the borders of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Weiss. “Upon arrival in Ukwimi, IOM, UNHCR, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and other operational partners will provide plastic sheeting and set up a basic health clinic. For its part, IOM will provide medical staff, supplementary drugs, medical kits and four additional deep wells for water.”
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