UNHCR begins transfer of Angolan refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday began the transfer of nearly 10,000 Angolan refugees from two locations in southwestern DRC - nearly 8,000 in Kidompolo and another 2,000 in Kimvula - to villages 50 km away from the Angolan border. The refugees had fled a 3 August UNITA offensive on the town of Beu in northern Angola and have been living in makeshift shelters under difficult conditions in recent weeks, UNHCR spokeswoman Millicent Mutuli announced on Tuesday. “Because of poor road conditions in the area, a first group of 600 refugees is scheduled to depart on foot this morning for the villages of Zulu and Zomfi. They will stop briefly at a rest station 17 km away and are scheduled to spend the night at a transit centre more than 30 km from the border.” The refugees were expected to arrive Tuesday morning at the villages of settlement, where each family will receive half a hectare of
land. Eight villages have been prepared the refugees’ arrival. According to UNHCR, the plan is to move an average of 600 refugees daily, thereby completing the operation by 5 or 6 September. Vulnerable refugees such as young children, the sick, the disabled and the elderly will be transported by truck.