Rains delays repatriation of refugees to Angola

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is suspending the repatriation of refugees from Zambia to Angola from next Tuesday until the rainy season ends in May, UNHCR spokesman in Zambia, Kelvin Shimo, told IRIN on Wednesday. "The decision was made because the roads are inaccessible and in a poor condition," Shimo said. "When we repatriate, we must make sure the safety of refugees is not compromised and the poor condition of the roads does leave the trucks prone to accidents." In addition, returning refugees would not have enough time to prepare for planting crops and would continue to be dependent on relief food, he explained. The refugees, who were due to be repatriated to Cazombo, in Angola's north eastern Moxico province, will remain in Zambia and will continue to receive assistance from UNHCR. "We will not leave them out in the wind," Shimo said. Repatriation to Moxico was also put on hold earlier this year, after a previously undetected land mine was found on a road being constructed. Since July 18,139 Angolan refugees, out of an estimated 200,000 who fled the civil war in Angola, had been repatriated, Shimo said.